Brussels, 07/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Friday at the end of the last Ministerial preparatory meeting in Bali for the World sustainable development Summit in Johannesburg, 26 August- 4 September, Environment Ministers from 114 countries set out objectives for the adoption of a political declaration renewing their world political leaders commitment to sustainable development and the implementation of an action plan based on the eradication of poverty, a change in consumer and production models, protection and management of natural resources through economic and social development, globalisation, health and development in Africa and other small island countries. Convinced that the lack of funding was one of the main reasons for the failure to apply Agenda 21 adopted in 1992 during the Rio Summit, Ministers are counting on this action plan to get things up and running. Margo Wallström, the European Commissioner for the Environment asserted that the European Union considered that one of the key issues at the summit was water management. The Union would be presenting a strategic co-operation initiative aiming at integrated water management, she added. Jaume Matas, President off the EU Council stressed the importance of co-ordinating these partnerships, identifying their finance mechanisms and respecting the interests of all the countries involved.