The Assembly urges the governments of member states, in particular those
of countries most exposed to water shortages, to:
6.1 include agricultural policy measures for water in a comprehensive
water resources management policy and, to that end, set up national water
agencies responsible for all issues relating to water (supply, demand,
charging, data collection, research, co-operation, information facilities,
etc.) so as to encourage rational and sustainable management of water resources
and the drawing up of national water management plans to improve the
conservation and renewal of water stocks and improve supplies;
6.2 promote co-operation between member states, notably with regard to
the transfer of surplus water resources to countries with a water
deficit;
6.3 encourage farmers to grow traditional crop varieties more suited to
local climates, employ irrigation methods that consume less water
(micro-irrigation, “fertigation”, etc.) and adapt agricultural consumption to
the water available;
6.4 introduce, in co-operation with professional agricultural
organisations, measures to assess agricultural practices and provide advice
with a view to promoting sustainable agriculture, notably with regard to the
efficient use of water resources;
6.5 promote less intensive and more ecological agriculture and breeding
to reduce the excessive use of chemicals (fertilisers, pesticides, etc.) and
the production of effluents, which are the cause of serious pollution of water
resources (surface and ground water);
6.6 adopt measures to reduce the very great losses that occur in water
collection and supply systems by renewing distribution networks, reducing
evaporation losses and improving the management of irrigation
systems;
6.7 reduce all excessive water consumption in line with available
resources, not exceeding the threshold for the restoration of stocks, and,
where appropriate, provide the necessary alternative installations on a timely
basis (recycling, desalination, etc.);
6.8 adopt, to this end, a comprehensive, integrated water management
policy which, on the basis of constant assessment and monitoring of available
resources and needs, makes the necessary adjustments between supply and demand,
and strikes the appropriate balance between competing types of use;
6.9 adopt flexible water charges that vary according to the types of use
and sector, and bring the price of water gradually into line with its real cost
so as to prevent excessive consumption without, however, penalising the
agricultural sector, on which our food security depends and for which water is
an essential resource;
6.10 expand co-operation with agricultural organisations so as to improve
the information, training and assistance provided for farmers with regard to
irrigation and cropping methods and choosing high-value varieties that need
little water;
6.11 promote research on irrigation methods, recycling and re-use
techniques for waste water, and the selection of crop varieties that need
little water, while paying particular attention to health and environmental
risks;
6.12 foster co-operation with international, research and agricultural
organisations competent in the water sector (the Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (Unesco), the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep), the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European
Union (EU), the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean and Agronomic
Studies (Icamas), the World Water Council (WWC), the International Federation
of Agricultural Producers (Ifap), etc.).
