(6 September 2012) We have launched the ‘Water is a Human Right’ European Citizens Initiative (ECI). This is the first ever ECI collecting online and paper signatures. We have solved the problems that were part of the Commission technical platform! Now we need more than 1 million signatures in at least 7 Member States. We count on you to help us achieving this. We are demanding the European Commission to act to ensure that all inhabitants enjoy the right to water and sanitation, that water supply and management of water resources are not subjected to ‘internal market rules’ and that water services should be excluded from liberalization, we finally ask that the EU increases its efforts to achieve universal access to water and sanitation in the EU and beyond.
This ECI is backed by the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) and a broad coalition of European civil society organisations (European Environmental Bureau, European Anti Poverty Network, European Public Health Alliance, Aqua Publica Europea & Women in Europe for a Common Future), with a national campaign in every single Member State. Information about the ECI is also available in all 23 official languages of the European Union.
We are extremely proud to be the first European organization behind this ECI and appreciate the congratulations received from European Commissioner and Vice-President Šefčovič who “praised members of the Right2Water citizens' committee for being the first to successfully navigate the process of finding a private host provider for their online collection system, and getting it certified by the competent national authority”
Of course, this is not the only news. One sad piece of news is that many of our colleagues of the Turkish Confederation KESK and its affiliated unions are still in jail. Together with other organizations we are considering how we can get them free and make clear that this scandalous behavior of the Turkish government is not acceptable.
Following the summer holidays in many countries and the European areas politicians take up their work, September will see many political and economic developments which are key for the future of Europe as the austerity policies continue to have their negative effect on workers and citizens.
Yours
Carola
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