(24 March 2009) The final declaration of the Ministerial meeting of the World Water Forum saw a major break away group of countries which signed an alternative declaration. This group of countries not content by slavishly following the private sector’s led World Water Council, wants the Forum to be run by the United Nations and not by the private sector.

The group also wants water to be recognised as a human right. The countries include Switzerland and Spain in Europe. Important countries such as South Africa, Uruguay and Venezuela are part of the group. The unions and others have been successful in convincing these countries to support the alternative platform.

The trade union representatives also met with the delegation of the European parliament that attended the World Water Forum. It passed on the message that the unions expect the EU to support the right to water, to promote public-public partnerships, democratic governance in the water sector. Especially the promotion of public-public partnerships got attention at the Forum.