DRIP FED!
This action is supported by: CGSP-FGTB and CSC services publics and NGOs (11.11.11- Coalition for the Flemish North-South Movement, Protos, Oxfam Solidarity, Attac Flanders, Belgian Association for a World Water Contract and FOS
Also at the action will be Belgian Senator Pierre Galand
EPSU Press communication: contact Brian Synnott +32 474 98 96 75
Action: World Water Day 22 March
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Attention: News Editors Attention: Photo Editors
Attached documents:
EPSU study: Aquafed another pressure group for private water
EPSU calling notice for World Water Day action Rond Point Schuman
Private Water Company lobby group AQUAFED puts backroom pressure on European Commission to privatise the sector.
World Water Day sees launch of study that exposes AQUAFED attempts to liberalise water services
(Brussels, 20 March) To coincide with World Water Day on 22 March, the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) will launch a study which highlights the underhand tactics private water companies have used to pressurise the European Commission to put water privatisation on the agenda.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY - TO MARK THE LAUNCH OF THE STUDY
Venue: Rond Pont Schumann, Brussels Date and Time: 11h00 22 March Action: HUMAN CHAIN between the offices of AQUAFED (Federation of private water companies) and the Berlaymont (European Commission headquarters) 600 people
EPSU wish to highlight that the International Federation of Private Water Operators (AQUAFED) is actively seeking to undermine the European water sector, which is predominately in public hands. AquaFed’s efforts "to promote private sector participation in water and wastewater management", quoted from their mission statement, will be heavily focused on European Union decision-making. AquaFed has strong French roots due to its close connections to the French water multinational Suez
EPSU Deputy General Secretary Jan-Willem Goudriaan stated that "22 March, should be a day to celebrate the human right to water and the role the European Union plays in ensuring that the Water Sector remains open, transparent and publicly accountable. However we now see that there are no limits to the tactics of private water companies take water out of public hands" .
EPSU is particularly concerned that the negative impact of water privatisation is understood in light of the recent European Parliament vote on the Services Directive. Mr. Goudriaan added that; "it is unfortunate but true that the Water sector is still within the scope of the Service Directive. The European Commission has some serious work to do to if they wish to be credible when they claim that universal access to water is one of their core positions" .
AQUAFED has been expressly created to counter "the serious PR problems which Suez and other water multinationals face now that it becoming apparent that the high claims made for privatisation have not been fulfilled. Despite the PR budgets available to the water corporations, anti-privatisation activists are seen to be winning the public debate", as quoted from the Study launched today.
Belgian Senator Pierre Galand, who will attend the added his support to the launch stating that "Access to water for all is a fundamental human right which is etched in all European and international conventions".
Aquafed’s secret membership
Almost six months after AquaFed was officially launched (October 2005), the group’s website lacks some basic information: there is no mention anywhere of which companies are members of AquaFed. For industry lobby groups, disclosing the list of member companies is most basic level of transparency that can be expected. AquaFed’s failure to deliver this makes it difficult for it to claim a role as a representative stakeholder
List of supporting organisations for World Water Day Action:
This action is supported by: CGSP-FGTB and CSC services publics and NGOs (11.11.11- Coalition for the Flemish North-South Movement, Protos, Oxfam Solidarity, Attac Flanders, Belgian Association for a World Water Contract and FOS.
Practical details
If you want to arrange interviews with EPSU leadership or with other participating groups, please call EPSU press officer Brian Synnott, + 32 474 98 96 75
For information please contact Jan Willem Goudriaan or Brian Synnott, + 32 2 2501080 or send an email to epsu@epsu.org
For more information on EPSU’s work on water: www.epsu.org/a/1672and www.epsu.org/r/38
World bank admits: future in water services is with local public utilities
EPSU is the European Federation of Public Service Unions. It is the largest federation of the ETUC. 8 million public service workers and their 209 trade unions are members. They organise workers in health and social services, local and national administration, energy, water and waste.
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