Zagreb, (IKA) – As previously announced, the Justice and Peace Commission of the Croatian Conference of Bishops issued a statement on water legislation today, September 23. The occasion for the statement was the new bill proposals on water and the financing of water management which, as pointed out by the Commission, “fundamentally alter the conception of the attitude toward this crucial public good.” The Commission expresses profound concern regarding the manner of “preparing” these laws as well as the numerous fundamental changes and in the general the provisions in the new bill proposals for these two pieces of legislation. The Commission emphasizes that the new proposals in these laws represent a great step backwards, that they were written in a precipitous manner, in many segments completely neglecting the rights of citizen users as the fundamental determinants of European water legislation and the adopted Water Strategy, and they do not contribute at all to a better system of oversight and transparency. In the statement, it is cautioned that the aforementioned draft proposal for the water management system would make it even more centralized, in direct contradiction to democratic standards as well as EU regulations, particularly the EU Water Framework Directive. The statement further notes that the new bill proposals represent a significant departure from the democratic standards of public offices and services, and no longer anticipate the Institute for Water or the establishment of a Croatian regulatory agency for water services. Moreover, the new bill proposals do not foresee a minimum public supply that would provide a guarantee to the poor among our citizens.
These draft proposals, according to the statement, have not provided safeguards against the uncontrolled privatization of water resources, a strategy for the export of water to countries that have a recognized need for a supply of drinking water, or safeguards against the illegal and uncontrolled extraction of gravel and sand from pumping sites. This has opened the way for highly interested multinational companies, as well as some socially and morally irresponsible local businessmen, to earn extra profits at the expense of the remaining national nonrenewable and renewable resources, warns the Commission. Similarly, nearly no institutionalized participation by citizens and other shareholders has been anticipated in the preparation of the basic regulatory documents, nor has a structure been anticipated for informing citizens about water services or access by citizens and participants to information regarding the use and spending of water fees.
Therefore, the Commission urges all state institutions and civil associations, as well as all the citizens of the Republic of Croatia, to demand a broad public debate on these issues of vital importance to Croatians of all ages.
In a world in which conflicts and wars for water have already begun and in which it is a human right and duty to preserve this universal natural resource, Croatian citizens have the right and duty to exert direct influence on the passage of water regulations and legislation, management and public water services, in order to keep this Croatian natural treasure under public ownership for the good of all citizens and generations, emphasizes the Commission. At the end of the statement, the Commission anticipates that the state authorities and competent minister will withdraw these unacceptable bill proposals and, pursuant to European regulations, submit bill proposals to the public and then to the Croatian Parliament which respect the specified rights, responsibilities and legitimate public interests.