MEPs adopted a resolution on the occasion of the V World Water Forum to be held in Istanbul from 16 to March 22. MEPs call for the removal of global subsidies to the distribution of water, because they are leading to artificially low prices and to overexploitation of resources. Moreover, MEPs want the problem of water management and water resources to included in the agenda of the conference on climate change in Copenhagen.

The resolution, approved by 550 votes in favor, 37 against and 6 abstentions, stresses that the lack of water and sanitation cause eight million deaths per year, over 1,000 million people do not have easy access and a acceptable price to clean water, and nearly 2,500 million people have no means of sanitation.
 
The text also warns that 2,800 million people live in areas experiencing water pressure and that this number will increase to 3,900 million people by 2030. The European Parliament made clear that water is a common good of humanity and should be a fundamental and universal right.

Furthermore, Members felt that some services use and rational management of water "must determine a price level that would prevent overfishing and to allow for certain sectors to invest in maintaining and improving infrastructure".
Also, note that the grants to water, leading to artificially low prices, "leading to the overexploitation of certain sectors and are a major cause of water scarcity." In this regard, calling for the deletion of the subsidy schemes in the global distribution of water, "which undermine the incentives for more efficient management leading to overexploitation, particularly for poor and rural areas, and achieve a affordable access for all".
 
Parliament also calls on Member States that, despite the financial crisis, they increase its contribution to official development assistance to achieve the objectives of drinking water, which needs investment amounting to 180,000 million dollars per year. It also emphasizes the creation of security devices that can implement the financial and development institutions.
 
The parliamentarians stressed that public-private partnerships, which must combine a rigorous and transparent regulation of public and private investment, "should be geared towards improving access to water and sanitation as well as a more efficient use".
 
They also call for a redoubling of efforts to involve the private sector in water distribution, in order to benefit from their capital, their expertise and technology to improve access to water and sanitation for all and the recognition access to water as a fundamental right .

Copenhagen Agenda

Finally, the EU argues that the problem of water management of water resources and the right to access to water for all is included in the agenda of the agreements to be defined in the COP 15 in Copenhagen (7 to 18 December 2009) on the future of the Kyoto Treaty, and expressed hope that negotiations under the UN to reach an international treaty that recognizes the right to water.