THE EUROPEAN WATER MOVEMENT IN THE FACE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE'S BLUE DEAL INITIATIVE

Photo credits: EESC 

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), a consultative body of the European Union (EU), is promoting an initiative to develop a global approach to European water policies. This proposal aims to materialize in a Declaration to be delivered to the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union at the high-level conference "Call for an EU Blue Deal" in October 2023, during the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU. The EESC's objective is for water to be one of the next EU Commission's top priorities.

Taking into account the relevance of this initiative, the European Water Movement specifies below its position in this regard, identifying the main challenges and its proposals for action related to water in the EU, all to influence the process of development and implementation of the Blue Deal.

Discover the 8 pillars of our position paper here (English). Also available in French, German, Italian and Spanish.

1. Water is a common good and not a commodity

2. Addressing climate change

3. Human Right to Water and Sanitation

4. Opposition to the privatisation of water management

5. Support remunicipalisation processes

6. Public and democratic management models

7. Financing 8. Labour conditions

More information on the EU Blue Deal here.

The European Water Movement lends its support to “Les Soulèvements de la Terre”

 

For the past 2 years, “les Soulèvements de la Terre” has been leading or joining forces in the fight against a multitude of absurd projects that are harmful to the environment and nature, in particular water-related projects such as the mega-basins at Sainte Soline.

In the face of popular support and the symbolic significance of their actions, “les Soulèvements de la Terre” has been subjected to a campaign of denigration and stifling, ranging from accusations of eco-terrorism to an attempt by the government to dissolve the organisation. This campaign has just suffered a major setback with the suspension of their dissolution by the courts. This is a 1st victory, as this fundamental decision remains temporary.

The European Water Movement, share not only the fight against mega-basins, but also the idea that the struggle to preserve the common good that is water is intimately linked to the other struggles highlighted by “les Soulèvements de la Terre”. We are also convinced that these struggles know no borders.

The European Water Movement therefore :

  • Calls on its members and all those who can to join the current water convoy, which will arrive in Paris on Saturday 26 August;
  • Calls on the French government to cease its relentless efforts to dissolve “les Soulèvements de la Terre”;
  • Lends its full support to “les Soulèvements de la Terre”: https://lessoulevementsdelaterre.org/

Thessaloniki and Athens water back in State hands

27 July 2023

Today the Greek Government implemented the decision 8/2023 of the CoS (Council of State) Compliance Committee by legislating the exit of EYATH from Superfund, and its return to the State.

With a 12-line amendment, the Water of Thessaloniki returns to the management of the State, where the Constitution has always stipulated. 

In 2011, the Hellenic Privatisation Fund (TAIPED) was established and EYATH - EYDAP were included in it for sale. A struggle was launched to keep Water as a common  good under Public control.

In 2023, after dozens of mobilizations, a grandiose referendum on Water, the transformation of the Hellenic Water Fund to Superfund, and five decisions of the Council of State, the country's largest water companies are returned to the state.

An amendment in July 2022 was interposed by which the Government annulled the decisions 190/2022 & 191/2022 of the CoS for the exit of EYATH- EYDAP from the Superfund, an amendment - an anti-democratic diversion.

This was followed by decisions 7&8/2023 (March 2023) of the CoS Compliance Committee, which forced the Government to withdraw its anti-democratic diversion.

At midnight on April 2, after the Concert for Water at Aristotelous Square in Thessaloniki (30.000 spectators) the first declarations for the implementation of the CoS decisions started by government officials. 

The government was forced to comply with the decisions of the Council of State and the will of millions of citizens.

We could not celebrate in a situation where the country is literally burning, canadair pilots and train passengers are being sacrificed in the name of "less state", energy and all public goods have been privatized, and the logic of "go where the sun goes" is becoming the norm.

Let the fight for water become an example to take back our lives and our land.

Today a great cycle is closing; we are preparing for the next cycles that have already opened, PPPs, Water regulatory, Public Taps.

Thank you, to each and every one of you who throughout these 12 years believed, supported, fought, struggled, frustrated, tired, encouraged, and finally vindicated with us. Without each and every one of you, Water would be in private hands.

Struggle’s justice, took a lot from you,
But Life as at postpartum, gave birth to hope.
(lyrics from a Greek struggle song) 

This text is the English translation of the
announce on the website of the EYATH Employees Union