Society makes demands on the administrative organisation and the performance of water management services. And rightly so. Water authorities, from the municipal to the European level, are endeavouring to respond adequately. In the Netherlands the regional water authorities are crucial in providing the required water management services, i.e. flood control, irrigation and drainage and municipal waste water purification.

EUWMA welcomes the communication of the EC on water scarcity and droughts. EUWMA values the distinction that has been made between water scarcity, a long term stress on water use related to water availability, and drought, a more short term event mainly due to particular weather conditions.

Vewin and UvW advocate a high level of environmental protection, and of water in particular, with regard to the use of plant protection products. Water framework objectives should never be compromised, and the "polluter pays" principle should always be respected.