International Expo "Water and Sustainable Development"
Water tribune
Antonio Garrigues: “We can not think about a polarised humankind”
The Water Tribune presented a new publication in its Words for Water series: “Law and Water: an instrument to guarantee our future” by the jurist Antonio Garrigues
Antonio Garrigues, an international jurist, began his conference with an analysis of the water challenges in Spain. This lawyer believes that a large part of the problem in management lies in the great number of institutions that have something to say, from water confederations to some town councils, not to mention the national government and some regional ones too. For this expert, the solution lies in making an effort to simplify matters – “complexity must be avoided” – and he added: “When rivers are shared by countries, agreements are made. The autonomous regions must make pacts”. Specifically, he goes for the idea of creating a European water network in the style of the already existing energy network.
This expert analysed the crisis in Spain and commented that it is not worthwhile going to extremes when evaluating it. He spoke of a crisis that affects more than Spain, one that is within a trend towards global instability. However, he highlighted the fact that the most curious aspect of the phenomenon was that this crisis affects the richer countries more than those in the third world, above all, he stated, because its origin lies in a financial crisis.
Garrigues asserted that the main problem facing the planet is not climate change but poverty. “Poor countries want the means to generate riches but we do not give them the opportunities to make this happen” and he added: “I believe the rich world will react when it sees itself fenced in; we can not think about a polarised humankind”. This expert disagreed with opinions that immigration is a negative phenomenon: for Garrigues, immigration is good in two ways – and he gave Spain as his example. Immigration has been very positive for the period of economic growth in the country, especially in the construction industry, and immigration has been very good for the donor countries because they have obtained resources from the wages of their citizens abroad.
This specialist presented the book entitled “Law and Water: an instrument to guarantee our future” as part of the Words for Water series. Antonio Garrigues Walter is an international jurist, assessor to various governments and founder of the Spanish Chapter of International Transparency.
