Inland water transport is, on many European transport corridors, a competitive alternative to road and rail transport, offering an economical, sustainable and environment friendly mode of transport. However,  in most UNECE countries it is still largely under-used and its development calls for a pro-active policy by Governments and international bodies. The UNECE White Paper on Efficient and Sustainable Inland Water Transport in Europe describes the current stage of inland water transport development in Europe and beyond, presents the existing legal and institutional framework for inland navigation and puts forward policy recommendations for international cooperation on developing this mode of transport in an efficient and sustainable manner.