European Water Movement · Protecting Water as a Commons

CONDEMNATION OF INTIMIDATION AND UNION REPRESSION TARGETING WATER SECTOR WORKERS IN SENEGAL

9 December

Press Statement

AFRICA TRADE UNIONS AND CIVIL SOCIETY DEMAND GOVERNMENT OF SENEGAL STOP INTIMIDATORY ACTS AGAINST OUMAR BA AND WATER SECTOR WORKERS.

Download the full press release here.

4 December

To the Senegalese National Press and the International Media

CONDEMNATION OF INTIMIDATION AND UNION REPRESSION TARGETING WATER SECTOR WORKERS IN SENEGAL

The Africa Water Justice Network (AWJN) issues this statement to the national press in Senegal and to international media outlets to draw urgent attention to a situation of exceptional gravity within the country’s public water sector.

We firmly condemn the ongoing intimidation, pressure, and threats of dismissal directed at workers, including trade union representatives who are advocating for transparency, accountability, respect for fundamental labour rights and sector reforms that impact positively on both workers and served communities. The ongoing repression represents a direct attack on union freedoms and people’s rights.

EWM Annual Event 2025 - Girona, Spain

The European Water Movement meets in Girona to defend public management and the human right to water

From December 5 - 7, 2025, we will gather in Girona for the annual meeting of the European Water Movement (EWM).

We are an open, participatory, and diverse network that promotes water as part of the common heritage of humanity and as a fundamental human right essential for all living beings.

Over three days, activists, researchers, and representatives from public entities and social movements across Europe will discuss current challenges in water management, the advance of privatization, and the need to build public, democratic, and transparent models of water governance.

Not able to join in person ?

You can follow sessions online:

Friday 5 December from 9am to 1pm
Saturday 6 December from 11:30am to 1 pm

Join us on Zoom here https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85943306082

Should you have any questions, reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

More than 100 European academics warn against a European Parliament proposal that could hinder the public services management

18 June 2025

The European Water Movement launches an appeal to defend the right of municipalities to opt for direct management of services such as water, transport and cleaning.

Over 100 professors, academics, researchers and experts in Public procurement, business and public management are calling to the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) negotiating the European Parliament report on the proposal for the revision of the public procurement Directive that is being currently discussed, not to introduce more administrative burden on local and regional governments and to promote more insourcing and inhouse provision when municipalities see fit.

More than 100 professors and academics from over 18 countries and over 50 different universities and institutes are calling the legislators to ensure that inhouse provision is uphold by the current parliament. Some MEPs with a far-right background have been promoting a dangerous element of what is usually called ‘competitive compulsive tendering’ echoing old proposals by the British Thatcherite right.

Water Resilience Strategy, Contribution to the Call for Evidence

March 2025

Contribution by the European Water Movement to the Calls for Evidence

Water Resilience Strategy
Water Efficiency First Principle

The European Water Movement (EWM) is an open, inclusive, and pluralistic network whose goal is to reinforce the recognition of water as a common good and a fundamental universal right. We are united in our fight against the privatization and commodification of this vital resource and in our commitment to constructing a public and communal management system for water, founded on the democratic participation of citizens and workers. The EWM was one of the promoters of the 2012/13 European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “Right2Water” on the Human Right to Water.

The last EEA report on Europe’s State of Water 2024 has highlighted frightening figures on both water quality and quantity in surface waters and groundwaters, where some of the main drivers have been clearly identified.

Although we recognize various positive elements in the Water Resilience Strategy initiated by the European Commission, we believe that some critical issues remain unaddressed. These shortcomings compromise the strategy’s effectiveness, democratic and participatory nature, and, equally important, the preservation of water resources.