Brussels, 17/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - Water is not a good but a universal human right. The organisers of the first-ever citizens' initiative (ECI), which gathered 1.8 million signatures on this subject in 28 member states and exceeded the quorum in 13 countries, made this point loud and clear in Brussels on Monday 17 February, delighted at having been able to express their demands before the European Commission and then at a public hearing at the European Parliament. They fervently hope that these discussions will lead to EU legislation (see EUROPE 11019).
Right2water is calling for three things: - for the institutions of the EU and the member states to be obliged to guarantee that all of their citizens have the right to water and cleansing; - that the supply and management of water resources is not subjected to internal market rules and for water services to be excluded from liberalisation; - for the EU to redouble its efforts to achieve universal access to water and cleansing. “Our position is clear: water is not a good like any other. There is no question of trading in water, there is no question of water being liberalised. We have not yet had our voices heard, but we have had the feeling that we are being listened to. We would like to thank the Parliament for allowing us to go a step further towards achieving our objectives: for the European Commission to take our demands on board”, Anne-Marie Perret, chair of the ECI committee of the citizens (and member of the European Federation of Public Service Unions), told the press. She was delighted to note that, at the exchange of views with the Commission, the Directorates General were very strongly represented.
Maros Sefcovic, the vice president of the European Commission, provided assurances that, “with the ECI, we are encouraging the debate. The first example of democracy focuses on the right to water. We are there to listen. We hope that the debate will produce concrete proposals. We will be able to meet our legal commitments”. He also announced that the European Commission will be presenting a communication by 20 March, within the three months stipulated in the regulation for responding to an ECI. Mathias Groote, the chair of the environment committee at the European Parliament said that this was “an historic day, the first ICE has been crowned with success and presented in a public hearing”. He welcomed the firm support of citizens and added that “this is an exceptional day for the EU. We need to dare to believe in Democracy. The three institutions now have to take action. This will involve establishing concrete rules. The Council is not present but should listen to what is said”. (AN/transl.fl)