Proposition de résolution relative au droit universel à l'eau.
General information ¶
- Authors
- PS | SP Mohammed Jabour, Karine Lalieux, Laurence Meire, Patrick Moriau
- Submission date
- Feb. 18, 2013
- Official page
- Visit
- Status
- Adopted
- Requirement
- Simple
- Subjects
- resolution of parliament human rights water water supply
Voting ¶
- Voted to adopt
- Groen CD&V Vooruit Ecolo LE PS | SP Open Vld MR
- Abstained from voting
- ∉ N-VA LDD VB
Party dissidents ¶
- Peter Luykx (CD&V) abstained from voting.
Contact form ¶
Do you have a question or request regarding this proposition? Select the most appropriate option for your request and I will get back to you shortly.
Discussion ¶
Feb. 13, 2014 | Plenary session (Chamber of representatives)
Full source
Rapporteur Christiane Vienne ⚙
I refer to this in my written report.
Ingeborg De Meulemeester N-VA ⚙
Mr. Speaker, colleagues, the present proposal for a resolution is important, ⁇ in the context of development cooperation and the negotiations on the Millennium Goals after 2015. However, we will abstain from voting. I would like to illuminate that decision.
Our amendment on free and non-discriminatory access to water was accepted. This was a very good change to the text. We have also succeeded in making water recognized as a global, public, public good. That is a key nuance, which ensures that the resolution can be added to other initiatives at the international level. The term means that water is everywhere in the world and that it should be available everywhere in the world. It also implies that water is a public good and, in theory, it cannot be owned by private enterprises that use water as a means of generating profits or as a pressure agent, the so-called water lords.
However, I still have questions regarding Article 5, which states that specific public service obligations, in particular on liberalization, shall continue to apply. The present text should be limited to the recognition of the basic right to water and the need for international cooperation. A decision on whether or not to liberalize the water supply cannot be made from a federal government. Each country is free to decide on its own, based on its own needs and wishes, as long as access to water is free and non-discriminatory.
I would like to make it clear that we are indeed in favour of the recognition of the universal right to water, water supply and water treatment. However, as the reference to the liberalization of water supply is still part of the draft resolution, we will abstain from voting on it.