Parliamentary Assembly Assemblée parlementaire Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs Commission de l’environnement, de l’agriculture et des questions territoriales ________________________ F – 67075 Strasbourg Cedex, tel: +33 3 88 41 21 07, fax: +33 3 88 41 27 17, http://assembly.coe.int,  e-mail: [email protected] Strasbourg, 12 August 2005 Dear Madam /Sir, The  Parliamentary  Assembly  (Committee  on  the  Environment,  Agriculture  and  Local  and Regional  Affairs)  is  co-organising  a  two-day  Conference  on  ‘Water  management:  A shared responsibility’  on 20-21 October 2005 in Strasbourg, France with the Congress of  Local  and  Regional  Authorities  of  the  Council  of  Europe,  and  in  co-operation  with  the Directorate-General of Education, Culture and Heritage, Youth and Sport of the Council of Europe. The conference is organised within the framework of the European Solidarity Week for Water on 17-21 October 2005. In  particular,  the  Conference  will  address  water  management  as  a  challenge  for  local, regional and national decision-makers, including Members of Parliament.  The Conference will also look into current water management issues, regional, parliamentary and European co-operation in the field of water resources. A final Declaration will be issued as a European input into the 4^th World Water Forum - ‘Local Actions fora Global Challenge’ - which will be held in Mexico City in March 2006. Given the importance of the issue and the crucial role played by Parliamentarians, I am very pleased   to   invite   you   (or   your   representative   and/or   other   interested   Members   of Parliament)  to  take  part  in  the  Conference.  During  the  Conference,  interpretation  will  be provided into English, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish. Please  find  enclosed  the  draft  programme  and  a  participation  form,  which  should  be returned  to  Ms  Hazel  Bastier  (tel.  +33  3  88  41  30  93,  fax:  +33  3  88  41  27  17,  e  mail: [email protected]) before 30 September 2005. Ms Carolina Lasén Díaz, Co-Secretary of the Committee (tel. +33 3 88 41 37 16, fax: +33 3 88 41 27 17, e-mail:  [email protected]) remains at your disposal for any further information. In the hope that you can accept this invitation, I remain, Yours faithfully, Walter Schmied Chairman