More than 100 European academics warn against a European Parliament proposal that could hinder the public services management

18 June 2025

The European Water Movement launches an appeal to defend the right of municipalities to opt for direct management of services such as water, transport and cleaning.

Over 100 professors, academics, researchers and experts in Public procurement, business and public management are calling to the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) negotiating the European Parliament report on the proposal for the revision of the public procurement Directive that is being currently discussed, not to introduce more administrative burden on local and regional governments and to promote more insourcing and inhouse provision when municipalities see fit.

More than 100 professors and academics from over 18 countries and over 50 different universities and institutes are calling the legislators to ensure that inhouse provision is uphold by the current parliament. Some MEPs with a far-right background have been promoting a dangerous element of what is usually called ‘competitive compulsive tendering’ echoing old proposals by the British Thatcherite right.

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Water Resilience Strategy, Contribution to the Call for Evidence

March 2025

Contribution by the European Water Movement to the Calls for Evidence

Water Resilience Strategy
Water Efficiency First Principle

The European Water Movement (EWM) is an open, inclusive, and pluralistic network whose goal is to reinforce the recognition of water as a common good and a fundamental universal right. We are united in our fight against the privatization and commodification of this vital resource and in our commitment to constructing a public and communal management system for water, founded on the democratic participation of citizens and workers. The EWM was one of the promoters of the 2012/13 European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “Right2Water” on the Human Right to Water.

The last EEA report on Europe’s State of Water 2024 has highlighted frightening figures on both water quality and quantity in surface waters and groundwaters, where some of the main drivers have been clearly identified.

Although we recognize various positive elements in the Water Resilience Strategy initiated by the European Commission, we believe that some critical issues remain unaddressed. These shortcomings compromise the strategy’s effectiveness, democratic and participatory nature, and, equally important, the preservation of water resources.

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The European Water Movement in the Face of the European Economic and Social Committee's Blue Deal Initiative

Photo credits: EESC 

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), a consultative body of the European Union (EU), is promoting an initiative to develop a global approach to European water policies. This proposal aims to materialize in a Declaration to be delivered to the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union at the high-level conference "Call for an EU Blue Deal" in October 2023, during the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU. The EESC's objective is for water to be one of the next EU Commission's top priorities.

Taking into account the relevance of this initiative, the European Water Movement specifies below its position in this regard, identifying the main challenges and its proposals for action related to water in the EU, all to influence the process of development and implementation of the Blue Deal.

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Report of the People’s Commission on The Water Sector

7 July 2025

In October 2024 the UK government launched an independent commission (Cunliffe commission) on the English and Welsh water systems. While we welcome such an initiative, the remit of the government’s commission is restricted in two main ways:

  • The scope is limited to improving regulation of the current system rather than considering alternative models of water provision, or providing solutions to ensure we have a robust sustainable and resilient water system.

  • Participation in the government’s commission is limited to stakeholders within the sector with little scope for involvement from the public who use water services and whose bills finance the entire water sector.

This has been reinforced by the independent commission’s interim report which fails to address the public’s concerns about pollution, profiteering, and the failure of the current water sector. The Cunliffe interim report suggests more security for privatised water companies, and more bureaucracy, but is not currently offering the radical solution and shake-up needed.

The People’s Commission, led by four academics from UK universities, aims to broaden the scope of the government commission, with public meetings in local venues across England. We have taken evidence from sector experts and water users, and draw on international experience to devise policy options for a sustainable, equitable and effective water system.

The People’s Commission published its report on the 7th July 2025. It is available here