Press release of the German network of solidarity with Greece

Handing over more than 170.000 signatures against water privatization in Greece on the 19th of June in Brussels to the President of the Eurogroup Working Group Thomas Wieser

Greece is being forced to privatize its two largest water companies in Thessaloniki and in Athens. This arouses big outrage and resistance is growing.

“The access to water is a human right. Water is a public property and not an object of trading.” This appeal signed by almost 2 million people induced the EU to give up the plan of water privatization - except for its southern countries, where the policy of the Troika puts pressure on politics to privatize water supply. So the Greek Parliament had to agree in transfering the large water companies EYDAP and EYATH to the newly founded superfund, controlled by the creditors, for privatization. Otherwise they would not be given the next credits.

Greeks have been fighting for many years against privatization. As many examples in cities all over the world show, not only did water supply aggravate after privatization but also prices started to rise. Rising prices mean for Greece that many people will have only insufficient or no access to water. Water is vital.

The German network of solidarity with Greece is supporting the fight against water privatization through a petition which has been signed by more than 170.000 persons by now.

The signatures will be handed over on the 19th of June at 9 a.m. in Brussels to the President of the Eurogroup Working Group, Thomas Wieser in the press center of the Council of the European Union (Justus Lipsius building). Thomas Wieser was chosen, as he is coordinating the Eurogroup and as he is President of the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC) of the EU. He has been preparing the EU bail-out programs for countries like Portugal, Spain and Greece.

Present at the handing over of the signatures will be Imke Meyer and Monika von zur Mühlen, network of solidarity with Greece; Pablo Sanchez, European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU); Frida Kieninger, Water & Food Europe; Noreen Murphy, European Water Movement. The event will be supported by members of the European Parliament, union representatives and activists of the network of solidarity with Greece. There will be opportunity to talk to all of these persons after the handing over.

Sincerely

Imke Meyer
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Mobil: 015233942406

Monika von zur Mühlen
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Mobil: 01738520199