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Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation
01/16/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/16/2026 03:51
Switzerland assumes the presidency of the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine in 2026 and 2027
On 1 January 2026, Switzerland assumed the rotating presidency of the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR). The CCNR defines the international regulations for free navigation on the Rhine and thus ensures, among other things, that ships can travel from Basel to Rotterdam or Antwerp or from there to Basel without restrictions or fees. Access to the largest European seaports, which is guaranteed under international law, is important for Switzerland's security of supply. In particular, the Swiss presidency will advocate the digitalisation, sustainability and safety of the critical infrastructure of Rhine navigation.
Every ten years, Switzerland assumes the presidency of the CCNR for a period of two years. In addition to Switzerland, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium are member states of the Strasbourg-based commission.
The two-year presidency gives Switzerland the opportunity to set the agenda for the work of the CCNR. In particular, it will work to ensure the availability of alternative fuels and the improvement of the corresponding infrastructure on the Rhine, and promote viable concepts to reduce the impact of low water. It will also foster innovation in automated shipping through pilot projects at the CCNR. In addition to these key topics, particular emphasis will be placed on continuing efforts to optimise the CCNR secretariat and strengthening cooperation with the European Commission and the European river commissions.
The Swiss delegation to the CCNR is led by Roland Portmann, deputy head of the Directorate of International Law at the FDFA. The delegation also includes representatives of the Federal Office of Transport, the Port of Switzerland as well as representatives of the inland navigation industry and the Swiss Maritime Navigation Office (SMNO). The SMNO, which is part of the FDFA, also provides the secretariat for the delegation.
The origins of the CCNR date back to the Congress of Vienna of 1815. It is thus the oldest international organisation in the world. The Mannheim Convention of 1868, which is still in force today, enshrines the central principle under international law of navigation on the Rhine and its tributaries without restrictions or fees. To ensure that this principle of free navigation can be implemented, the CCNR regulations provide for uniform and binding rules for navigation on the Rhine. As a member state, Switzerland has an equal say in the development of these rules.
The internationally regulated section of the Rhine begins below the bridge Mittlere Brücke in Basel and covers around four kilometres in Switzerland. Unimpeded access from Basel via the Rhine to the largest European seaports in Rotterdam and Antwerp is important for Switzerland's security of supply. Goods transport via the Rhine accounts for around 10% of Swiss foreign trade and 30% of mineral oil products are imported by this route.
https://www.schweizerischesseeschifffahrtsamt.eda.admin.ch/en/european-inland-navigation
Address for enquiries:
FDFA Communication Bundeshaus West 3003 Bern +41 58 460 55 55 [email protected]
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation published this content on January 16, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 16, 2026 at 09:51 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]