Republic of Serbia Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and

Republic of Serbia Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Directorate for Water Sustainability, Equity and Democratic Governance in Water Management – Serbia`s as well as a Common Chalenge Valentina Mileusnic Vucic, independent advisor Protocol on Water and Health, Workshop on Equitable Access to Water Paris, 5 -6 July 2007

Need for Cultural Change? Sustainability, equity and democratic governance in water management requires farreaching changes in our • scales of values, • conception of nature, • ethical principles, and in our • lifestyles

Different functions and values In order to prioritise the rights: • Water for life /universal human right/ • Water for general interest purposes. • Water for economic growth.

Water investments Investing in water (and sanitation) is a good bet, whether one is talking about large-scale infrastructure or small local developments. Investments at all levels can generate rapid returns that make them competitive when compared to the direct economic effects of investments in other sectors.

Environment A key challenge is to create a policy and regulatory environment that supports the scaling up of positive examples of pro-poor water management and policy development, in particular creating the incentives to generate investments, from communities and capital markets, that are essential to supplement government and donor resources. This includes an awareness amongst policy makers of all costs and benefits and values that water investments generate.

Role of International Organisations International efforts should be centred on supporting the public sector to achieve the • MDGs, • demanding democratization, • respect for human rights, • transparency, and fighting corruption.

Key Message A key part of the message is that the targeting of investments to the specific circumstances and opportunities of the poor can greatly enhance the efficiency of investments and effectiveness in terms of poverty impacts.

Common Aims 1 - Essential water services must be granted the status of general public interest to guarantee the priority of human and social citizenship rights over market interests; 2 - Current debates on the liberalisation of water services must be subject to broad based public debate, with substantive participation of citizens, NGOs, workers’ unions, user organizations, and other relevant actors in the decision making and monitoring process; 3 - The achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will require that governments and international institutions take urgent decisive action to meet the financial cost involved, as a matter of public duty;

4 - Public and private operators alike must be subject to strict regulation by representative public bodies to ensure transparency and citizen participation; 5 - International financial institutions and the development agencies of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries should no longer condition the financing of investments by liberalization and privatization. Their efforts should be centred on supporting the public sector to achieve the MDGs, demanding democratization, respect for human rights, transparency, and fighting corruption.

Water Responsibilities According to the Law on Ministries Directorate for Water is responsible for: 1. 2. 3. Multipurpose water usage Protection from water Protection of water

WATER SUPPLY Total capacity 25 m 3/s 75 % ground water 25 % surface water

PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY COVERAGE in SRB HOUSE CONNECTIONS Central SERBIA Vojvodina Kosovo 86 % 81 % 51 %

Total investments for waterworks and sewerage reconstruction in SRB Possible drinking water production in Serbia 25 m 3/s Estimated value of "water business" – possible 800 million m 3 per year Annual profit is 800 million € (with the price of 1 €/m 3)

Legal status PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANIES State owned MANAGEMENT : THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Objectives: to comply with the EU standards The main issues that EU presently raises in regard to the future of W & S: - globalisation and opening of markets for free competition - extension of public-private partnership - sustainable development

Access to:

Total investments for waterworks and sewerage reconstruction in urban areas in SRB Number of inhabitants in urban areas 4 200 000 Specific investments €/capita Total investments billion € Treatment plant 110 0. 462 Transport and distribution 140 0. 558 Total waterworks 250 1. 050 Sewerage network 160 0. 672 WWTP 220 0. 924 Total sewerage 380 1. 596 Total 630 2. 646 Type of investment

Total investments for waterworks and sewerage reconstruction in rural areas Number of inhabitants in rural areas 3 300 000 Specific investments Total investments € /capita billion € Waterworks 250 0, 825 Sewerage 528 1, 742 Total 778 2, 567 Type of investment

Total investments for waterworks and sewerage reconstruction in SRB

Investment needs for waterworks and sewerage For meeting EU standards it is necessary to invest 5. 2 billion €. For period of 20 years 260 million € per year or 2, 8 € per capita per month

Belgrade Waterworks and Sewerage

Thank you for your attention! Directorate for Water, MAFWM Bul. Umetnosti 2 a, New Belgrade, Serbia Phone+ 38111 201 3355 Email: valentina. mileusnic@minpolj. sr. gov. yu