The challenges of the Seine-Nord Europe canal

The project for the construction of the Seine-Nord Europe (North Seine Europe) canal has been a priority for France and also for Europe since April 2004. The canal will be the missing link in the European Seine-Escaut waterway for the transportation of large loads. It will be a waterway route linking the numerous economic centres of the Greater Paris basin with the Benelux countries and Western Germany, providing an alternative to the congested road network, particularly in the area around the large maritime ports of Northern Europe. Because it is linked to the Danube, a transport route will exist between central and eastern Europe, stretching as far as the Black Sea. The draft was first approved by the European Parliament the European Council, and on November 20th 2006 by the French transport minister. A public inquiry is currently being held, following which the finishing touches will be put to the project. Against a background of economic and technical issues, time constraints, with meetings and consultations with all those involved, Nicolas Bour describes how, after a protracted development phase in both France and Europe, the project evolved from being an infrastructure project to a wide-reaching project offering transport and logistics, with the aim of helping regional development.