Recommendation 1668 (2004)1
Management of water resources in Europe
1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers to its
Recommendation 1669 (2004) on
transboundary water basins in Europe.
2. The Assembly reaffirms the validity of the principles laid down in the European
Charter on Water Resources, adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 17 October
2001 which replaces the 1968 European Water Charter. The charter draws governments attention
to the need to manage and protect water resources by adopting a common and
3. The Assembly recommends avoiding any interpretation of the charter resulting
in limiting the traditional use of water resources (drinking
water and agriculture), particularly in mountain regions, increasing
their financial and administrative costs or disregarding the rights of mountain
communities to use water resources on their territory for the generation of
4. It reiterates its commitment to the protection and proper management of
fresh water resources in Europe and in some specific regions such as the Mediterranean,
the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea basins. In this respect, the Assembly welcomes
the creation of the Hydrotechnical Euro-Mediterranean Institute (water technology
and management), which was established under Council of Europe auspices further
5. Since the adoption of Assembly Recommendation
1224 (1993) on
the protection and management of freshwater resources in Europe, the Council
of Europe has welcomed thirteen new member states, mainly from central and
eastern Europe. However in these countries, economic developments coupled
with poor water management and protection have led to growing pressures between
water supply and demand.
6. The Assembly stresses that water management, in the perspective of sustainable
development, is a matter for all: governments, parliaments, territorial authorities,
representatives of business, science and technology, non-governmental organisations
and the people themselves. For this reason, co-operation must be encouraged
between administrations and between the private sector and the public authorities,
who should retain a leading role in water management.
7. The key concept for sustainable development is integration. Integrated water
management is a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable development and for
the future of the European continent and the planet, with implications in all
aspects of human life including drinking water supply, sanitation, agriculture,
industry, urban development, hydropower, fisheries, transportation, recreation
and land management.
8. The Assembly reiterates its commitment to the Rio and Johannesburg process
and welcomes the commitments to achieving the goals contained in the United
Nations Millennium Declaration, the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable
Development Plan of Implementation and Agenda 21. In this respect, the Assembly
especially welcomes and supports the objective of a significant reduction in
the number of persons without access to safe drinking water or sanitation.
9. The Assembly draws attention to the European Unions Water Framework
Directive which establishes a precise framework for water management by defining
catchment areas as the only management and planning unit and by giving territorial
authorities wide-ranging responsibilities in management of water resources.
10. The International Year of Freshwater 2003, proclaimed by the United Nations
General Assembly in recognition of the central importance of water resources,
provided the international community with an excellent opportunity to raise
awareness globally, promote best practices, motivate people and mobilise resources
in order to meet basic human needs and manage water in a sustainable way.
11. In this context, the Assembly welcomes the creation of the Unesco-IHE Institute
for Water Education, jointly established by the Government of the Netherlands
and Unesco and inaugurated at Delft (the Netherlands) in March 2003.
12. The Assembly supports the United Nations General Assemblys proposal
to proclaim the period from 2005 to 2015 as the International Decade for Action, Water
for Life, starting on World Water Day, 22 March 2005, and invites
member states to consider a contribution by the Council of Europe to the decade.
The Council of Europe should continue to mobilise the international community
towards reaching the water-related goals in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,
the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development Plan of Implementation
and Agenda 21.
13. Consequently, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:
i. encourage member states to support and develop scientific research programmes
so as to develop reliable integrated observation and monitoring systems and
create comprehensive, easily accessible databases, thereby improving knowledge
of the status of water resources, particularly groundwater;
ii. encourage member states and members of the Open Partial Agreement EUR-OPA
Major Hazards Agreement to include water issues on their list of priorities;
iii. organise an educational programme including a comprehensive awareness-raising
campaign, to mobilise and educate European policy makers and the public towards
sustainable water management, at individual and group level;
iv. consider means to allow member states of the Council of Europe to benefit
from the Unesco-IHE Institute for Water Education through a specific agreement
between the institute and the Council of Europe;
v. invite member states to develop their co-operation with the Hydrotechnical
14. Considering the multi-sectoral nature of water resources development and
management, the Assembly invites the Secretary General to launch a Euro-water integrated
project for sustainable water management in Europe, aimed at assisting member
states in the implementation of water policies and also in the development
of practical tools for the different actors concerned.
integrated project could include in particular:
i. dissemination of good water practice and experience, including existing
ii. implementation of the existing legal framework;
iii. co-ordination of water initiatives, projects and programmes, with particular
emphasis on groundwater;
iv. international co-operation for improved management of shared water basins;
v. integration of all the interested parties and civil society in global
sustainable water management;
vi. establishment of partnerships with other international organisations
as well as with representatives of civil society;
vii. adequate training and reliable information exchange;
viii. a European Water Award to honour the most successful water initiatives
15. The Assembly calls on the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of
the Council of Europe to promote territorial authority involvement and responsibilities
in the management of water resources.
16. The Assembly also invites the European Parliament to speed up the adoption
of the directive on the protection of groundwater against pollution.
debate on 25 June 2004
(24th Sitting) (see Doc.10132,
report of the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and
Regional Affairs, rapporteur: Mr Velikov).
Text adopted by the Assembly on 25 June 2004 (24th Sitting).