Slovak Parliamentary Chairman Pavol Paska, Prime Minister Robert Fico and Environment Minister Peter Ziga on Thursday unveiled their governing Smer-SD party's constitutional amendment to ban water exports.
Fico read out the proposed provision whereby the transportation and transit of water gained from various sources such as ground waters, natural healing waters and mineral waters across Slovakia's borders shall be prohibited.
If passed by parliament, the ban will apply to transportation in pipelines and water tanks alike. Those who export bottled water processed in Slovakia, be it mineral or table water, will continue to be allowed to do so.
"Obviously we can't jeopardize jobs," said Fico. An exemption is also set to apply when it comes to humanitarian crises.
Speaking on Thursday, Fico said he hoped the constitutional bill would be passed in parliament. In order to be approved, the bill needs to receive support from 90 MPs, while Smer has only 83 legislators.