STATE FINANCIAL SUPPORT PROSPECTS FOR INLAND WATERWAYS UPGRADING TO INCLUDE THE RIVER TRANSPORT IN A MULTIMODAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM

Abstract

The article states that the system of multimodal transport belongs to the strategic sectors of the national economy and is a significant component of the Ukraine’s infrastructure capacities. It is stressed that Ukraine, having an extensive river network, had occupied outsider positions among the European countries with the smallest share of river transport. It is proved that the development of multimodal transport in Ukraine requires the priority solution of a number of internal problems, in particular, improvement of the existing and development of a new legislative framework on financial support for the upgrading of inland waterways in order to include river transport in the system of multimodal transport. The gaps of the Draft Law of Ukraine “On Inland Water Transport” as of 07.09.2018 № 2475a-d and other regulatory legal acts on regulation of multimodal transport were identified. The need to amend the tax and budget laws of Ukraine, as well as the relevant government regulations on the excise taxation for refueling of river boats, is substantiated. The amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On the Sources of Financing of Road Sector of Ukraine” concerning improvement of the mechanism for financing of the road sector as of 17.11.2016 № 1762-VIII are considered as a vivid example of finding alternative sources of financial support for the inland waterways upgrading. The Article offers various options for the alternative financial support for the inland waterways upgrading for the integration of inland water transport into the system of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and the inclusion of river transport into the system of multimodal transport.