European Skippers Organisation - vzw
Recent meetings
| Date | Commissioner / Cabinet | Topic | File |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Sept 2025 | Torsten Klimke Head of Unit | Regular courtesy visit of the Inland Waterway (IWT) sector to the Head of Unit in charge of IWT | — |
| 19 Sept 2025 | Torsten Klimke Head of Unit | Regular courtesy visit of the Inland Waterway (IWT) sector to the Head of Unit in charge of IWT | SRC |
| 16 Jan 2025 | Fotini Ioannidou Director | Courtesy visit of the Inland Waterway (IWT) sector to the new MOVE director and Head of Unit in charge of IWT | — |
| 16 Jan 2025 | Torsten Klimke Head of Unit | Courtesy visit of the Inland Waterway (IWT) sector to the new MOVE director and Head of Unit in charge of IWT | SRC |
| 16 Jan 2025 | Fotini Ioannidou Director | Courtesy visit of the Inland Waterway (IWT) sector to the new MOVE director and Head of Unit in charge of IWT | SRC |
| 16 Jan 2025 | Torsten Klimke Head of Unit | Courtesy visit of the Inland Waterway (IWT) sector to the new MOVE director and Head of Unit in charge of IWT | — |
| 18 Oct 2021 | Daniel Mes Cabinet member | Preparation for a keynote speech on climate transitions in inland waterways | SRC |
| 18 Oct 2021 | Daniel Mes Cabinet member | Preparation for a keynote speech on climate transitions in inland waterways | — |
| 04 Feb 2020 | Diederik Samsom Cabinet member | European Green Deal | — |
| 04 Feb 2020 | Diederik Samsom Cabinet member | European Green Deal | SRC |
| 05 Apr 2017 | Alisa Tiganj Cabinet member | INLAND NAVIGATION | — |
| 05 Apr 2017 | Alisa Tiganj Cabinet member | INLAND NAVIGATION | SRC |
| 23 Feb 2017 | Alisa Tiganj Cabinet member | Inland waterways | SRC |
| 23 Feb 2017 | Alisa Tiganj Cabinet member | Inland waterways | — |
| 17 Oct 2016 | Henrik Hololei Director-General | IWT | SRC |
| 17 Oct 2016 | Henrik Hololei Director-General | IWT | — |
| 24 Feb 2016 | Violeta Bulc Commissioner | Meeting with sectpr representatives of Inland Waterways Europe (IWW) | — |
| 24 Feb 2016 | Violeta Bulc Commissioner | Meeting with sectpr representatives of Inland Waterways Europe (IWW) | SRC |
Mission & Goals
ESO looks after the interests of the European private inland shipping entrepreneurs on the European level. The General Assembly and Governing Body of ESO are composed of representatives of Belgian, Dutch, German and Polish inland waterway transport organisations. Mr. Christiaan Van Lancker is the acting president. ESO is the interlocutor of the European Commission (DG-MOVE) and the Central Rhineshipping Committee (CCNR). ESO participates in many working groups, which are often established on demand of, or in cooperation with ESO. Together with the colleages of the European Barge Union (EBU) a nautical-technical commission has been formed to advise EC and CCNR. Since its etablishment ESO has occupied itself in the interest of independant entrepreneurs on various matters, such as market regulation, fleet renewal, use of reserve funds, market observation, waterway bottlenecks & infrastructure, inland shipping promotion, manning regulations, crew qualification and certification,
EU Legislative Interests
NAIADES / PLATINA implementation, Harmonisation of Qualification and Certification, Social Dialogue on Working Time Agreement, Implementation of technical regulations, NRMM directive, measures on greening the fleet & energy transition, market observation, application of financial instruments, CDNI and ADN legislation, infrastructure, TEN-T regulation, Water Framework Directive, Modal shift
Communication Activities
In 2018 ESO together with EBU established the joint European IWT-platform in Brussels. This platform ads a new dimension of expertise to the benefit of the entire inland navigation community and all institutions involved in it. The platform is a private foundation with seat in Brussels and was officially launched January 21, 2019. ESO and EBU coordinate most of its implementation activities mentioned above, via the said joint IWT Platform.
Interests Represented
Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members
Member Of
Joint Nautical Technical Commission of the European Barge Union (EBU) and the European Skippers' Organisation (ESO); Joint Commission Tanker Shipping & ADN of ESO and EBU (European Barge Union); Joint European IWT platform
Organisation Members
www.eso-oeb.org/members