We
recognise the Charter of Mexico City (Joint Declaration of the
Movements in Defense of Water) and the method of working inclusively
and in unity that has characterised the social forums since their
birth. In particular we demand:
1. Recognition and implementation of the human right to water. Access
to water as a universal human right should be included in all constitutions
of member countries, starting with the European treaty. This should
be enshrined in European Union law and all people of Europe should
be guaranteed access to water regardless of their financial ability
to pay.
2. That water is excluded from international trade agreements, including
the treaties of the World Trade Organisation
3. That the European Commission, European Council and individual
European governments withdraw their support from the World Water
Forum, which is a flawed framework for decision-making on water.
As adopted in March 2006, in a European Parliament resolution, it
is inappropriate for the World Water Council, a private body without
any democratic legitimacy, to be allowed such influence over global
water policies.
4. That
the European Union and member countries affirm that water is
a common
good essential
to life and as such cannot be categorised
as a ‘product’ to trade like any other. Ownership, management
and control of the integrated water cycle should be public, participative
and at a social and community level.
5. Political and financial support for diverse forms of public-public
partnership through international development cooperation and financial
cooperation to ensure access to water, exchange of best practices
among public enterprises, local authorities, modalities of participation
and solidarity between citizens and communities from different countries
and regions.
6. That, considering that water is an essential public good, the
investment needed to secure safe and sustainable water supply for
all in Europe and across the world is a collective responsibility
which should be paid for through general taxation.
We will
participate in and support, together with other continental networks
and progressive
forces in Turkey, the counterproposals to
the World Water Council’s World Water Forum (Istanbul March
2009), to be presented within and outside the Forum. Present at the
upcoming World Social Forum of Belem (January 2009) proposals and
actions to ensure that water will become one of the points of worldwide
mobilization of all the social forums.
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