Utilities, Water

In the wake of the global financial crisis, neoliberal restructuring has continued unabated across Europe, with the privatisation of public services a key element of both national austerity policies, and European Union (EU) – level economic governance structures.

World Water Day 2021, 22 March, celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people across the globe who do not have safe access to water.

Aqua Publica Europea (APE) and EPSU met to discuss our ongoing cooperation. It was the first meeting with Bernard Van Nuffel since he was elected President of APE. He is also the President of the Brussels water operator, Vivaqua.

The European Public Service Union (EPSU) welcomes the vote on the Drinking Water Directive recast in the European Parliament (15 December) as a step forward to realise the Human Right to Water in the EU.

Press Release - EPSU welcomes the vote on the Drinking Water Directive recast in the European Parliament today as small step forward to realise the Human Right to Water in the EU.

A group of private water operators tried to block the discussion of the report on “The Privatisation of Water and Sanitation Services” of the United Nations (U.N.). 150 organisations including EPSU and PSI intervened to keep it on the agenda.

The UN Human Rights Council approved the appointment of Pedro Arrojo-Agudo as Special Rapporteur for the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation.

After the remunicipalisation of water services in Mafra in 2016 (Portugal), another Portuguese town has announced now that is going public.

A new report commissioned by EPSU highlights the crucial role and often high-risk labour of the workers involved, who have largely been ignored in both research and policies relating to the circular economy.

The European Commission adopted a European union circular economy action plan in March 2020. EPSU organised a discussion with Virginijus Sinkevičius, the Commissioner responsible.

The coronavirus pandemic has now infected more than 2 million people worldwide and caused over 145,000 deaths. Like so many other key workers, workers in the waste collection, water and energy distribution sectors are risking their lives

22 March is World Water Day. It comes as workers and people respond to prevent the rapid spread of the Corona virus (Covid 19). Hundreds of thousands are faced with job uncertainty or loss.

(27 February 2020) On 26th February, EPSU held its biannual Standing Committee (SC) on Utilities, bringing together EPSU affiliates from across Europe. The key elements addressed during this meeting were the European Green Deal, especially the social dimension and Just Transition Mechanism, the

Survey on Health and Safety in the Circular Economy (waste and wastewater)

On 29 November 2019, the Brussels Region officially became a Blue Community. EPSU is a proud partner of the Brussels Blue Community project, and is pleased to have been part of this event which celebrates being one step closer to ensuring the right to water across Europe.