MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
10.3.2006
pursuant to Rule 108(5) of the Rules of Procedure
by Brian Crowley
on behalf of the UEN Group
on the fourth World Water Forum in Mexico City (16 to 22 March 2006)
B6‑0165/06
European Parliament resolution on the fourth World Water Forum in Mexico City (16 to 22 March 2006)
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the fact that, on 21 and 22 March 2006, the fourth World Water Forum will be held in Mexico and that the European Union will participate in the Ministerial Conference with its own representatives,
– having regard to the fact that one of the goals established at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 was to halve by 2015 the number of people having no access to drinking water and basic sanitation,
– having regard to the fact that only 2% of the world’s water resources comprise drinking water,
– having regard to the fact that more than 5 million people in the world, mostly women and children, die every year because of a lack of drinking water,
– having regard to the fact that more than 1.2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water,
– having regard to Rule 108(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas water is the essential element for life in all its aspects; whereas the protection of water ecosystems is essential to safeguard biodiversity,
B. whereas access to water should be considered as a fundamental right for everyone and whereas all participants in the World Water Forum should be invited to foster conditions under which access to water may be provided for everybody,
C. underlining the opportunity for local actors and communities to be involved in the decision-making process and the management of water resources,
D. stressing the importance of the role of people in the management of water, in regulating access, in maintaining pools and irrigation systems as well as promoting the sustainability of water,
E. whereas the scarcity of water could undermine peaceful accords in the future across the world, in addition to causing major migration flows,
F. stressing the need for the preservation of territories’ hydro-geological assets in order to prevent natural catastrophes,
1. Invites the EU to promote cooperation projects which value the local dimension of water management;
2. Considers that a public-private partnership could facilitate access to water for everyone; considers that, in any case, water supply should be organised in so as to guarantee access at prices which are affordable to all, and to that effect calls on the Commission and the Member States to adopt a policy of water management assistance based on the principle of universal, fair and non-discriminatory access to healthy water;
3. Considers of primary importance the promotion of the fight against water pollution and over-exploitation of water sources;
4. Suggests that funds provided by the EU in the context of cooperation programmes and economic partnership should be put towards a sustainable use of water sources;
5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the World Water Council.