 Other measures In 2001 the Association of French Mayors has developed a standard contract for water supply and sanitation services that aims at strengthening the position of municipalities vis-à-vis private operators.In 2002 the Association of French Mayors, the Assembly of French Departments, the Association of French Regions and the "Institut de la Gestion Déléguée" (IGD) signed a "Charter of Local Public Services".In the charter these entities commit themselves, among others, to the free choice of management models and the reversibility of these choices; objective comparisons between management models; to ensure transparency of costs and to equitably share gains in performance; and to strengthen local democracy and independent evaluations.