Assumption of state policy concerning inland waterways in Poland

Despite the assumption of government documents to support inland waterways, degradation of the technical condition of waterways and depreciation of fleet ship-owners is actually occurring. At the marginal importance of inland waterway transport policy, the government also shows a negligible share of the transport sector in the use of EU funds. The Sectoral Operational Programme Transport 2004–2006 does not provide for EU funds to co-finance investments for inland waterway transport. Small funds for this purpose were obtained only in the framework of the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment 2007–2013. It should be noted, however, that during the control of the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Maritime Economy – in cooperation with the National Water Management – efforts were led to ensure that the new 2014–2020 financial perspective for the tasks related to the improvement of infrastructure of inland water transport were granted before aid. Against the background of European trends in developed countries of the European Union (EU), the Polish inland waterways are not important in the transport of goods, but instead the transport of persons confined to tourism and local – to supplement the motor transport infrastructure (river ferries). For many years Poland has experienced a decrease in both freight and inland waterways, as well as in their participation in all transport modes. The aim of this article is to assess the activities of government administration in the performance of statutory tasks related to the development and operation of inland waterway transport in Poland.