04/09/2009 Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In a report adopted today in Paris by the PACE Committee on the Environment, Bernard Marquet (Monaco, ALDE) stresses the importance of recognising access to water and sanitation as a fundamental human right. According to the rapporteur, who describes in particular the worrying situation of the Maghreb, a real water culture should become widespread, founded on integrated management that accommodates the economic, ecological and social aspects. The rapporteur also calls for inter-regional and transfrontier co-operation on water issues.
The population’s access to healthy water is limited. There are 41 million people in Europe who do not have access to safe drinking water, while 85 million people lack access to basic sanitation. The Middle-East and North Africa region is by far the world's most impoverished area in terms of water, with 1% of the world's freshwater resources.
Mr Marquet's report will be the first in a series of reports covering different aspects of water policy, including water in conflict situations.