Dear European Ombudsman,
we are writing to you as a response to your invitation to submit comments regarding the functioning of the European Citizens Initiative (ECI). As campaigners for a public, progressive and sustainable management of water, we very strongly supported, with all means available to us, the ECI on the human right to water that was delivered to the European Commission last January. The Commission has now answered, so we have a good overview of the whole process. Our demands were the following :
- The EU institutions and Member States be obliged to ensure that all inhabitants enjoy the right to water and sanitation.
- Water supply and management of water resources not be subject to ‘internal market rules’ and that water services are excluded from liberalisation.
- The EU increases its efforts to achieve universal access to water and sanitation.