The Pan-European network of inland waterways of international importance or simply “E waterways” is set out in the European Agreement on Main Inland Waterways of International Importance (AGN) - a United Nations treaty adopted by the UNECE Inland Transport Committee in 1996. The AGN entered into force on 26 July 1999 and counts 17 Contracting Parties.
The AGN establishes an international legal framework laying down a coordinated plan for the development and construction by Governments of a network of inland waterways and ports of international importance, based on agreed infrastructure and operational parameters, which they intend to undertake within the framework of their relevant development programmes. The Agreement underlines the importance of inland water transport which, in comparison with other modes of inland transport, presents economic and environmental advantages and may, therefore, contribute to reducing congestion, traffic accidents and negative environmental impacts in the pan-European transport system.

The Blue Book presents a regularly updated inventory of existing and envisaged standards and parameters of E waterways and ports in Europe and shows, on an internationally comparable basis, the current inland navigation infrastructure parameters as compared to the minimum standards and parameters prescribed in the AGN Agreement. Equally, the Blue Book identifies bottlenecks and missing links in the existing E waterway network.

Information about inland water transport can be found on the UNECE Website. For further questions and comments, please contact the UNECE secretariat.