Press Releases

The Free Trade agreement between the EU and Canada threatens water management

Brussels, 30 October 2015.

During the secret negotiations of the free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada (know as CETA), the European Commission always maintained that water would be excluded from the treaty, and that the choice on how to manage Services of General Economic Interest (SGEI) related to water (production and distribution of drinking water and sanitation, among others) by the public authorities would not be questioned. But a careful reading of the consolidated text of CETA, released the 26th of September of 2014 shows that the reality is different.

Rights and Obligations Relating to Water

The article "Rights and Obligations Relating to Water" is written in fuzzy legal terms, sometimes even in contradiction with EU and national legislation. No doubt the vagueness and loopholes in this article will facilitate a corporate capture of water by multinational companies in Europe and Canada. The article states that "water in its natural state [...] is not a good or a product and therefore [...] is not subject to the terms of this Agreement." But almost all water uses (drinking water, sanitation or agricultural irrigation) involves water extracted from its natural environment. It could, therefore, be considered as a good and a product, and could be treated as a commodity and therefore subject to CETA. The article adds: " Where a Party permits the commercial use of a specific water source, it shall do so in a manner consistent with the Agreement" without clearly defining what is a "commercial use” for water or a "specific water source." Currently it is up to Member States in Europe to allocate water abstraction rights and they do so by different criteria, but not with criteria based on trade and investment that can be found in free trade agreements. Under these conditions there is no other way to read this article as anything but one additional tool to move towards an increased water commodification.

The European Parliament votes for the Right to Water in Europe!

Brussels, 8 september 2015.

Today's vote is a great victory for democracy, civil society and for each of almost 2 millions citizens who signed the European Citizens Initiative on the Right to Water.

The report on the follow-up to the European Citizens' Initiative Right2Water, supported today in the European Parliament by a majority, passed with no major changes, despite a countermotion proposed by the EPP and the ECR groups.

The position of the European Parliament on the Right to water is clear!

The Commission is now called to implement the right to water in Europe through production of effective legislative tools to make the human right to water and sanitation a reality.

Water is endorsed as vital to human life and dignity, not to be treated as a commodity. Therefore, water services must be excluded from trade agreements, such as the TTIP.

European Parliament committee supports the human right to water

June, 25th 2015.

Brussels - The Committee on the Environment of the European Parliament voted today on a report about the European Citizen's Initiative (ECI) on the Human Right to Water and Sanitation, as a result of a campaign that gathered nearly two million signatures all across Europe. Members of the European Parliament confirmed their strong support for the human right to water.

"European citizens have time and again spoken out in favour of water as a human right and a common good. Whenever asked, they have massively supported public water management", said David Sánchez, Campaigns Officer at Food & Water Europe, "MEPs in the Committee on Environment are asking the European Commission to act accordingly. We expect the Parliament's Plenary vote in September to confirm this result and the Commission to finally listen to EU citizens."

European Water Movement's opinion on the vote in the Committee of Environment of the European Parliament on the Right to Water report

The Committee on the Environment of the European Parliament voted on June 25th on a report about the European Citizen’s Initiative (ECI) on the Human Right to Water and Sanitation. The European Water Movement, as one of the promoters of the ECI, welcomes the fact that the European Parliament takes a position and calls on the Commission to come forward with legislative proposals to make the human right to water a reality in Europe and beyond. We fully share their concern that nearly two million signatures cannot be ignored if the European Institutions don’t want to widen the huge gap between Brussels-based decisions and European Citizens.

Daegu Human Right to Water Declaration

The following declaration was written by Korean and global water justice groups gathered at the Daegu Alternative Water Forum.

From April 12-14, Korean civil society organizations hosted an Alternative Water Forum in Daegu in opposition to the corporate-led World Water Forum 7 being held in the same city. One of the key concerns for the Korean Government Employees Union – the main organizers of the event — was the involvement of French multinational water corporation, Veolia. KGEU argues that Veolia used the corporate World Water Forum to cement its interests in the region (read more). The KGEU is fighting to keep water public in Korea and represents 140,000 public sector employees but has been refused legal status by the Korean government.

2015 Daegu Gyoungbuk declaration on the Human right to water

Water is life and a human right.
We declare our commitment to strong public water services for all!

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