EPSU Press communication – 14 May 2014
EPSU supports NO vote in Thessaloniki Water Referendum; asks Suez Environment to respect outcome
The European Water Movement is an open, inclusive and pluralistic network whose goal is to reinforce the recognition of water as a commons and as a fundamental universal right. We are united to fight against privatisation and commodification of this vital good, and to construct a public and communal management of water, founded on the democratic participation of citizens and of workers.
In the perspective of the next European Elections in May 2014 the European Water Movement has some specific demands to the candidates. We want to know what position you will take if you are elected and we want you to commit with us!
What do we ask you as a candidate to the European Parliament to commit about:
19 March 2014
The European Water Movement regrets that the European Commission decided not to take real actions, ignoring 1,9 million citizens
Brussels - The European Commission (EC) made public today the communication on the European Citizen’s Initiative on the Right to Water[1]. The communication fails to respond to 1,9 million citizens asking for a legislative provision excluding water and sanitation from “internal market rules” and liberalization. The EC’s reaction is lacking in real legislative proposals, and it boils down to a compilation of already ongoing actions plus the announcement of a public consultation on the drinking water directive whose outcomes will not be binding.
Dear European Ombudsman,
we are writing to you as a response to your invitation to submit comments regarding the functioning of the European Citizens Initiative (ECI). As campaigners for a public, progressive and sustainable management of water, we very strongly supported, with all means available to us, the ECI on the human right to water that was delivered to the European Commission last January. The Commission has now answered, so we have a good overview of the whole process. Our demands were the following :
Brussels 17 February - The first ever successful European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) met with Maros Sefcovic and the European Commission services today to discuss the application of the ECI within European legislation. This is the first time the European Commission meets and discusses with citizens to initiate European legislation.
After having received over 1.68 million valid statements (http://www.right2water.eu) the representatives of the citizens committee are demanding that the European Commission recognise and implement the right to water for all into EU legislation as a way of ensuring all Member States do the same.
The message of our ECI is simple. Implement the human right to water, do not liberalise water services in the EU and do more to ensure people across the world have access to clean and safe water, says Jan Willem Goudriaan, vice-president of the ECI Right2Water.