CURRENT CHALLENGES CONCERNING THE LAW OF WATER SERVICES IN HUNGARY
CURRENT CHALLENGES CONCERNING THE LAW OF WATER SERVICES IN HUNGARY

Summary/Abstract: Water-related challenges exist in almost every country all around the world. These challenges encompass problems connected to different scientific fields, including law. The legal background of water issues is quite fragmented and, furthermore, consists of different levels of law – i.e. international, EU and national law – as well. Though, the present paper focuses on the Hungarian water-related legal challenges, it is absolutely clear that these challenges might not be solved without the achievements of other scientific fields (beyond law), and without a multi-level and comprehensive legal approach. This paper presents the most important focal points of the Hungarian water-legislation (i.e. water law concepts) in consideration of which the law-makers adopt the law concerning water management and water protection. By now, these water law concepts have been developed separately from each other. The present paper draws attention to the importance of integrative instruments among water law concepts. These integrative instruments are elementary to solve the challenges of the 21st century. The paper provides some examples of these integrative instruments. Afterwards, one of the water law concepts is analysed in a deeper way; that is the so-called `water as a natural resource and the subject of commercial deals´, and especially its sub-category, water services. In connection with water services, the paper also assesses the so-called Arad-Békés water service agreement according to which the Hungarian and Romanian parties endeavor to transfer drinking water from Romania to Hungary. Such solutions in water utility supplies may be regarded relatively rare.

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