Brussels, 01/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - During its plenary session of 24 and 25 January, when it approved the report by Maria Candelas Sanchez Miguel (Workers Group, Spain) on the Commission's communication on pricing policies for enhancing the sustainability of water resources, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted a somewhat critical approach to the Commission document. While sharing the idea that water pricing has a key role to play in encouraging sustainable use of this resource, the Committee stresses that "water is more than just an economic asset, considering that it is a basic entitlement of human beings and that it is essential to ecosystems". The Committee therefore urges for generalised access to water, guaranteed to everyone, even for the very poorest. More specifically, the Committee considers that: 1) metering devices must be introduced across the board, particularly in agriculture and industry, considering that consumption for domestic purposes is generally already under closer observation; 2) initiatives must be taken to educate and instruct the general public so that the new water culture, particularly in its anti-pollution and water saving aspects, becomes firmly entrenched in European society; 3) the Commission should prepare a separate document on water pricing for agriculture.