The European Investment Bank in cooperation with Aquanet (www.aquanet.pl) will hold in Poznan (PL) on 19 and 20 June 2006 a conference on financing for the water sector addressing public and private stakeholders from Poland and beyond.

The two-day conference, at the Hotel Mercure, is designed to bring together representatives from the government, local authorities, scientists, experts, managers and stakeholders from the water sector.

The aim of the seminar is to present the most recent developments in the water and sanitation sector in Poland comparing them with trends and developments in other European countries which demonstrate and promote good practice.

The seminar will be opened by Ivan Pilip, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank. Other confirmed speakers include Pawel Chudzinski, President of the Management Board, Aquanet; Ryszard Grobelny, Mayor of Poznan; Pedro Cunha Serra, Chief Executive Officer, Aguas de Portugal; Arjen Frentz, Association of Dutch Water Companies (VEWIN) and Paul van Hofwegen, Programme Director, World Water Council. Speeches and presentations will be followed by panel discussions, chaired by Tadeusz Mosz, and a series of technical workshops.

Journalists are invited to attend the opening sessions, which begins at 13:30. Following the opening session, the keynote speakers will hold a press conference at 15:30.