Vol. 562 No. 4
408 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on the withdrawal of EU proposals for the liberalisation of water services in Africa in the context of the World Water Forum meeting in March 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6579/03]
I refer to the reply to Question No. 430 of 18 February 2003.
The EU formally launched its global water initiative in Johannesburg on 3 September 2002, aimed at creating strategic partnerships to achieve the goals of the world summit on sustainable development in relation to clean water and sanitation. These targets include the halving, by 2015, of the proportion of the world population without access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. The EU water initiative will be under development until the end of 2003 and a progress report will be presented at the World Water Forum in March 2003. Its initial focus will be on Africa and the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union. In this context the EU has developed an agreement with Africa, Water for Life, through which it will help its partners to develop integrated water resources management plans by 2005 which will support achievement of the goals of the world summit. The EU position emphasises that cost recovery objectives in the context of water services should not become a barrier to access to safe water by poor people.
The World Water Forum provides a forum for broad-based discussion on water management issues by Government representatives, experts, stakeholders and non-governmental organisations. While its conclusions will not have formal status or binding effect, the forum provides an opportunity to reaffirm political will towards solving outstanding global water issues and identifying concrete actions for expanding co-operation and initiatives on water at various levels. In particular, the forum presents an opportunity to support a substantial follow-up towards implementation of the water-related targets set in Johannesburg in 2002. The plan of implementation adopted at Johannesburg refers to the need for action to provide safe drinking water in the context of poverty eradication, protection of human health and protection and management of the natural resource base of economic and social development. It acknowledges the need to adopt an integrated water basin approach, and for actions at all levels including through regulation, monitoring, voluntary measures, market and information-based tools, land-use management and cost recovery of water services, without cost-recovery objectives becoming a barrier to access to safe water by poor people.
