Since the 1980s, the European Union favours regulatory reforms in network industries and the water sector appears to be … Water Systems in European (UWSE)." This process began in the second half of 1990 and the Water framework directive (2000 …

Water is an exhaustible natural resource. Access to clean, safe and affordable water must be managed nowadays not only … to avoid any unnecessary use of water, but also allow for continuous supply of such an important factor of public well …-being. In recent years, water-related activities acquired significant economic characteristics and competition in the sector has …

Water resources management is central to EU environmental, regional and development policies. The EIB's mission being … been a major player in the water sector. Since its creation in 1958, it has lent some EUR 30.3bn to 651 water supply and … Development Goals in water and sanitation, as defined at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 2002 …

The EIB has been the largest source of loan finance to the global water sector to date, compared with other … international financial institutions. In the five-year period 2005 to 2009, EIB direct lending for water-related projects, excluding … hydropower and irrigation, was almost EUR 15bn for a total of 126 major water supply and sanitation projects. Of this, 90% was in …