04/09/2008 Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
Strasbourg, 04.09.2008 – A colloquy on the theme "The role of parliaments in the management of water resources", organised by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Environment Committee, will be opened in Madrid by the President of the Assembly, Lluís Maria de Puig, on Monday 8 September 2008.
Some 50 participants will analyse in particular the water management in agricultural development in the Mediterranean region and the problems of urban water management. The stakes of the Fifth World Water Forum, to be held in Istanbul in March 2009, will also be discussed during an exchange of views.
The colloquy should provide elements to Bernard Marquet (Monaco, ALDE) for the preparation of a report on "Water: a strategic issue for the Mediterranean Basin", which will be presented to PACE in 2009.
The colloquy, which will take place from 9.30 am to 13.00 pm in the Sala de Columnas of the Congress of Deputies, is open to the press.
The next day, Tuesday 9 September, participants will travel to Zaragoza to visit the Expo 2008 on the theme "Water and Sustainable Development". On this occasion, they will meet the town's mayor, Juan Alberto Belloch.
Contact: Francesc Ferrer, Communication Unit of PACE, port. +33 630 496 822, francesc.ferrer@ coe.int