European Water Workers mark World Water Day with protest against water privatisation plans

Press communication: 22 March, 2006

European Water Workers mark World Water Day with protest against water privatisation plans

(22 March, Brussels) EPSU today held an action to mark World Water Day in the heart of Europe. A human chain of 1000 people was formed between the offices of AQUAFED (the International Private Water Company Federation) and the European Commission headquarters. "This action was to demonstrate that private water companies continue to pressure EU decision makers to make the case for water privatisation", said EPSU deputy General Secretary, Jan Willem Goudriaan. "This is despite a mountain of evidence that shows that this model simply does not work". The chain of 1000 people passed buckets of water and dollar signs to visually illustrate the risk of water access being considered only as a business and not as a human right.

Aquafed was established 5 months ago with the express purpose of "promoting private sector participation in water and wastewater management" and it continues to resist demands to reveal its member organisations. EPSU used the occasion to also launch a study on AQUAFED and its close ties to French multinational SUEZ. The background study was prepared by Public Service International Research Unit (PSIRU) and is called 'AQUAFED - another pressure group for private water'. This action was particularly well timed in light of the ongoing Services (Bolkestein) directive debate, which still includes the water sector within its scope.

This action was 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 in attendance were: Senators Olga Zrihen and Pierre Galand and Deputies Karine Lalieux and Mohammed Boukourna from the Belgian Parliament.

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

Contact Brian Synnott: +32 474 98 96 75

Action: WORLD WATER DAY IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Attention: News Editors Attention: Photo Editors - photos attached

  • EPSU workers demonstrating outside the AQUAFED offices on World Water Day 22 March 2006
  • Indymedia, C. Legasse