Trends in the Development of Inland Navigation Law in the Danube Countries

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to identify the main directions for the development of inland navigation law in the Danube countries. The importance of the results obtained for practice, law-making and scientific work lies in the fact that they help to mobilise resources. The study is based on an analysis of EU and Danube countries' legislation in the field of navigation, a comparison of the strategies and programmes of these entities, and official statistical and economic information. The study is the first in Europe to be carried out using data from Romania, Germany and Ukraine. The use of comparative and analytical methods, as well as cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary approaches, ensured the reliability of the results. At the global level, the development of law is characterised by its responses to challenges related to climate, digitalisation and security. The English language may influence its development by introducing elements of common law into domestic shipping law.

At the regional level, the role of EU law is growing. Germany, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine and other Danube countries are developing domestic shipping law at the national (local) level in accordance with their legal traditions and local conditions, taking into account the mandatory provisions of EU law.