Slovak PM defends constitutional ban on water exports

The Slovak government is determined to advocate a constitutional ban on water exports, due to which the European Commission (EC) launched an infringement procedure against Slovakia in late 2015, announced Prime Minister Robert Fico on Tuesday.

"We want the EC to respect the fact that drinking water is a national heritage, strategic raw material, national wealth and that every country has the right to adopt measures for its self-protection. We're ready and we feel strong in this lawsuit. For us, this is a crucial issue," stressed Fico.

The cross-border export of water has been banned in Slovakia via the Slovak Constitution since 2014. A Polish firm that wanted to export mineral water from the Tatra region to Poland, after failing to obtain a permit last year, appealed to the EC, accusing Slovakia of violating the free movement of goods.

Fico pointed to the fact that nobody is preventing the firm from operating in Slovakia and bottling water in consumer packaging.

"However, it cannot export water in tanks or through pipes, as this would mean the uncontrolled, unregulated export of a huge volume of drinking water and a threat to our vital supplies," said Fico, noting that around one half of European river basins will suffer from a lack of water in 2030.

He didn't want to speculate on how the lawsuit might end. Nevertheless, he said that other European countries might also press for changes concerning water resources. Endit