PROTECTION OF WATER RESOURCES IN ARGENTINA AND MERCOSUR (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Argentina, as well as Brazil, has suffered strong economic and social impacts due to the prolonged scarcity of rains, mainly in the Paraná River sub-basin region, which makes up the Rio de la Plata Basin, which in turn is a of the largest basins in the world, formed by the set of sub-basins of the Paraguay, Paraná and Uruguay rivers, whose sources are in Brazilian territory and flow into Argentine territory. Given this situation, cooperation between MERCOSUR member countries is necessary. This research aims to analyze the current water crisis in Argentina and possible legal solutions within MERCOSUR. In order to do so, it intends to verify the legal treatment of fresh water in international environmental law and in the scope of MERCOSUR; analyze the legal regime for freshwater in Argentina; present possibilities for legal solutions to minimize the impacts of the water crisis within MERCOSUR, in order to help jurists, managers and other members of civil society, providing subsidies so that the protection of water resources can be developed effectively. The method of approach used was the hypothetical-deductive, as a method of procedure was used the comparative, the method of sociological interpretation and the research technique used was the bibliographic research. The research pointed to the need to recognize the importance of water as a common good substantially necessary for human existence and that its protection is a duty that is imposed on everyone, and in the case of transboundary waters, the shared management of this resource is the way of cooperation. In this sense, it is necessary that the MERCOSUR States Parties integrate and harmonize their environmental laws with a view to cooperation and environmental preservation.