Interview – Jean Launay, Chairman of the National Water Committee (France)

At the 21st Euro-INBO International Conference in October 2023, France, represented by Mr Jean Launay, President of the French National Water Committee, handed over the presidency of the network to Spain, represented by Mr Teodoro Estrela, Director General for Water at the Ministry of Ecological Transition.

As we come to the end of this Valencia summit, where I will be handing over the presidency of Euro-INBO to the Spanish for the coming year, I would first like to stress that the past two years, marked by the debates in Annecy in 2022 and Valencia in 2023, have been profoundly influenced by the pressure of climate change and droughts. It is undeniable that awareness of the current situation, of the pressure on water resources, of the need to share uses, and of the imperative of sobriety, is now imperative for everyone, whatever our situation.

It seems to me that this is the strongest political message and the major lesson we can learn from this period.

In addition, river basin management, which is one of the fundamental principles of the 1964 French Water Act, continues to structure the organisation of water management in France, particularly through the funding of river basin agencies. This model has flourished, not only in Europe, but throughout the world.

The relevance of this approach, particularly with regard to transboundary management of groundwater bodies and its impact on policies and international relations, is such that we cannot turn away from it. I personally insisted on this aspect of things. In an increasingly complex world, where political imbalances are accelerating, I believe that water, as a common good and common heritage, must remain at the heart of our concerns, more than ever. This concerns politicians, associations, non-governmental organisations and all those who are concerned about good water management.

Mr Jean Launay, President of the National Water Committee (France), President of Euro-INBO from 2022 to 2023

*Interview conducted during the 21st International Euro-INBO Conference, October 2023.