Brussels 14/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - The universal right to drinking water will be central to the public hearing to be held at the European Parliament in Brussels this Monday 17 February, and it is a major first as this event will be taking place in the framework of a European citizens' initiative (ECI), the first of its kind since the Treaty of Lisbon brought in this innovation.
The petition of Right2Water has gathered nearly two million signatures (one million more than the required number) from citizens of at least seven member states of the EU. It calls upon the European Commission, which received the petition on 20 December of last year, to propose legislation in order to guarantee universal access to adequate supplies of drinking water and cleansing services throughout the EU. Those behind the campaign will have the opportunity to present their demands. The public hearing has been arranged by the parliamentary committee on the environment chaired by Matthias Groote (S&D, Germany), in association with the petitions committee, the committee on the internal market and consumer protection and the committee on development. (AN/transl.fl)