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Doc. 8837
25 September 2000
Sharing water resources management data on Internet: the role of the Council of Europe
Opinion
Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Food
Rapporteur: Mr Daniel Goulet, France, European Democratic Group
The rapporteur for opinion of the Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Food was, together with a number of colleagues, the author of motion 8489 which was the instigator for the report and which was entitled “Creation of an Internet site exclusively reserved for gathering data on water” (cf appended motion).
As such, he welcomes the fact that the Assembly has submitted three texts for joint discussion, thereby setting aside substantial time for the debates to be held on this extremely important topic of water.
The rapporteur of the Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities has perfectly understood the challenge of this question of water management. However the report submitted to the Assembly does not fully reflect the reasons behind the initial motion. Although considerable emphasis is given to the educational aspect, the more important dimension, that of collecting information, has not been developed to the full, despite the limitations so rightly pointed out by the rapporteur.
Returning to the origin of the motion:
1. Water is the main challenge facing us in the 3rd millennium in terms of increasing shortages, distribution, management and processing. The European Union decided a few days ago to develop a common policy by 2015. Until then, we can act together; we must take action.
1/5 of all human beings have no access to drinking water and 10,000 children die every day from the consequences of diseases linked to polluted water, in other words almost 6 million people (for 1999) according to the most recent report of the World Water Commission.
2. Irrigation alone accounts for 70% of global water consumption. The agricultural sector is therefore especially concerned by this issue, as water is vital for its very survival.
3. For years now, a new report has been published or a colloquy organised on this subject every single month. These initiatives come from the UN and UNESCO, which are the international organisations best placed for considering the issues at global level, but also from other specific bodies:
- International University Water Institute;
- International Water Resources Association;
- World Water Council;
- International Office for Water;
- Mediterranean Water Institute;
- ministries of agriculture;
- International Federation of Agricultural Producers;
- Universities Water Information Network (UWIN); etc.
To date over 40 French-language websites alone have been set up.
As part of the activities carried out by its Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Food, the Council of Europe has organised several forums, including those held in Jerusalem in 1994 and in Cyprus in 1998 (which was behind the report on water resources and agriculture to be debated jointly with this report), which addressed the still topical issue of water and (i) agriculture, particularly in regions with few resources (such as the Mediterranean), (ii) new technologies (biotechnology, hydrology) to improve plant species and soil quality, and (iii) the possibilities of inter-regional co-operation, particularly in research and development (as pointed out in the other report under discussion on the setting up of a Mediterranean hydrotechnical institute.
How can individuals, farmers, professional associations or groupings, or even elected representatives aware of water-related difficulties find the valuable information contained in numerous reports on this matter?
Quite simply, they cannot and this is most regrettable.
It was in order to overcome this shortcoming that the idea was raised of creating a site for gathering information which could play a vital role in the farming sector.
Accordingly, this future site should collect information and be accessible by all economic operators and not merely, as indicated in the report, by local elected representatives (para 22).
Clearly, the water issue can and does pose a problem depending on whether one is a member of the Committee on the Environment or the Committee on Agriculture. In this sensitive areas we have what legal experts call a conflict of interest and it is fortunate that the Bureau of the Assembly has programmed this debate before the reform of our committees becomes effective.
A local elected representative from a farming region cannot fail to react to the report by the Committee on the Environment which accuses farmers of being responsible for “the severest forms of pollution” (para 5). This considerably downplays the impact of industrial, domestic and energy-related pollution, whether nuclear, chemical or other.
There should be a halt to ill-considered accusations directed towards the farming sector of blame for the severest forms of pollution, and to bringing upon them the burden of excessive and unjustified responsibility, by making unfounded accusations and disregarding the positive developments in farming practices.
In many countries and particularly in France, the Chambers of Agriculture have for some time been taking very strict environmental protection measures and the effects of these can only be measured over time.
The information on these programmes, accessible on the website of the Assemblée permanente des Chambres d'Agriculture (www.apca.chambagri.fr) could serve as a model for similar initiatives in other countries.
It is also true that local authorities are equally concerned and take action in this sector, and that the participation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe is imperative.
In Normandy, for example, the Regional Council, of which I am the first deputy president, has introduced arrangements to follow up the guidelines set at national level in the form of a water management strategy. The aim is to be more familiar with, be better informed about and to manage more effectively water resources, with regard to pollution issues, safety against flooding, etc.
Such issues are monitored by local committees comprising 40-60 members, 50% of whom are mayors, 25% users and 25% central government representatives.
The advantage of this local initiative (which fits in with the approach at national level) is that it involves all stakeholders: as far as water is concerned there can be no spectators. Each and everyone of us is involved and is responsible for the success or failure of the action programmes.
Each and everyone of us is responsible and we shall all be guilty of doing nothing and of allowing this most precious of nature’s assets to become rarer through our own fault, our inertia and our selfishness.
In conclusion, we are all aware that the next wars could be water wars. In some parts of the world they have already begun. This is why we must all act accordingly without further ado.
Proposed amendments:
Amendment no 1
Delete paragraph 5
Explanation
The allegations are too sweeping and moreover are inaccurate. The figures quoted are only averages. Each country must be considered separately. It is true that agriculture consumes a lot of water, but its contribution to water pollution is shared with other sectors.
An elected member from an agricultural area cannot not react to the environment committee's report, which accuses farmers of being "responsible for the severest forms of pollution". This is seriously to understate the impact of other forms of pollution: industrial, domestic, energy-based and so on.
The rapporteur proposes that this paragraph be deleted.
Amendment no 2
In paragraph 22, replace the words:
"especially for local and regional elected representatives and administrative officers providing them with" with "providing".
Explanation
This site should collect information for and be accessible to all those concerned with the economy and not just local elected representatives, as stated in the report.
Amendment no 3
In paragraph 23.i, delete the words:
"in support in particular of the efforts of the Moldovan Government"
Explanation
Many other initiatives should also be encouraged. To quote just one, however praiseworthy, would be to forget the others.
Committee for report: Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities.
Committee for opinion: Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Food.
Reference to committee: Doc. 8489 and Reference 2427 of 20 September 1999.
Secretary to the committee: Mr Sixto.
Appendix
Doc. 8489
19 August 1999
Creation of an Internet site exclusively reserved for gathering data on water
Motion for a resolution
presented by Mr Goulet and others
This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and only expresses the views of the members who have signed it |
1. Water is the main challenge facing us in the 3rd millennium, in terms of:
- increasing shortages
- distribution
- management
- processing.
1/5 of all human beings have no access to drinking water, and 10 000 children die every day from the consequences of diseases linked to polluted water.
2. Irrigation alone accounts for 70% of global water consumption. The agricultural sector is therefore especially concerned by this issue, as water is vital for its very survival.
3. For years now a new report has been published or a colloquy organised on this subject every single month. These initiatives come from the UN and UNESCO, which are the international organisations best placed for considering the issues at global level, but also from other specific bodies:
- International University Water Institute;
- International Water Resources Association;
- World Water Council;
- International Office for Water;
- Mediterranean Water Institute;
- International Association of Hydrological Sciences;
- agricultural and scientific organisations:
- CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique);
- Ministries of Agriculture;
- International Federation of Agricultural Producers;
- Universities Water Information Network (UWIN);
- etc.
4. As part of the activities conducted by its Agriculture Committee, the Council of Europe has presented several reports and organised several forums, including that held in Jerusalem in 1994 on the following themes, which are still topical:
- biotechnology and technologies for improving soil quality;
- inter-regional co-operation in research and development;
- farming in desert areas.
The Committee on the Environment has also dealt with this topic, and at every session parliamentarians submit proposals for a variety of measures in this field.
5. Given the worldwide importance of this issue, the Council of Europe must provide a forum for debate and proposals.
In order to cope with the enormous number of documents on the subject, it should undertake to gather information from the different bodies, NGOs, specialised organisations, universities, etc, working on water issues and create a data base accessible to all its members.
Such a data base could help member and observer countries by enabling them to share experiences and research projects that can be transposed, particularly vis-à-vis countries in the Mediterranean Basin.
6. In view of all its activities geared to promoting inter-regional co-operation, the Council of Europe must be the driving force behind an activity of decisive importance for our future by improving our handling of these issues through information gathering. This endeavour must involve creating, pooling and exploiting all the available electronic communication facilities.
7. The Council has already addressed the matter of information dissemination in a more general manner in the Committee on the Budget's report (Doc. 8344).
8. Therefore, the Assembly proposes:
i. to create an Internet site to collect all the available documents, whether from the agricultural or environmental fields, on water issues:
- distribution
- growing shortages
- processing
- scientific data.
ii. that arrangements be made within the framework of the Council of Europe to achieve this project.
Signed :
Goulet, France, EDG
Bartos, Czech Republic, EDG
Belohorska, Slovakia, EDG
Eltz, Croatia, EDG
Hoegh, Norway, EDG
Hornung, Germany, EPP/CD
Keltosova, Slovakia, EDG
Micheloyiannis, Greece, SOC
Saakashvili, Georgia, EDG
Schreiner, France, EDG
Sinka, Latvia, EDG
Steolea, Romania, EDG
Tkac, Slovakia, EDG
Turini, Italy, EDG
Zingeris, Lithuania, EDG
