River transport as a possibility of economic development of Serbia

The author of this paper aims at showing the importance of water potentials of Republic of Serbia in the light of contemporary environment and the possibility of economic development. The traffic on the internal waterways has a number of advantages in comparison to other means of transportation, and it offers a competitive advantage alternative to the land transport. There are numerous regulations, directives, and recommendations whose aim is to harmonize the existing regulations in the field of river transportation as the most important segment of traffic in inland waterways in the European Union. The legislative activity in the EU should allow for not only the adopting of new regulations, but to the harmonization of the existing regulations within the legal systems of the member states and those countries which aim at becoming member states. The existing regulation regulating the legal regime of the Danube sailing was adopted over 50 years ago, and in this light, the author reflects on the existing Danube Convention of the sailing regime, and the need of its adjustment to the latest economic demands. Regulation of the Sava sails, as the second track of waterway sails in Serbia, as opposed to the Danube sails regime, is in its initial stages and the author emphasizes the importance of this river in the river traffic in the country.