EPSU

Thirsty for Change: A critique of World Bank policies in water

Veronique — 2010-08-31T08:22:39Z

(31 August) The Boston-based group Corporate Accountability International has published a 16-page report called "Thirsty for Change"
The report criticizes the policies of the World Bank. Several union colleagues contributed to the report which has examples from Armenia and Turkey. Union colleagues underline how the private sector operates.
The Group calls the World Bank to change its policies and focus on supporting the public services.

See the report here http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/sites/default/files/Thirsty-For-Change.pdf

How did Paris remunicipalise its water services ? The benefits of public ownership.

Veronique — 2010-08-31T07:11:16Z

(31 August) Anne Le Strat, Deputy Mayor of Paris and President of the Eau de Paris, (the city's new public water company) has contributed a chapter to the upcoming French edition of the Reclaiming Public Water book. The chapter, titled "Paris an example of how Local Authorities can regain control of water management", is now available online in English, Spanish and French.

The water services of Paris were remunicipalised in January 2010. The operations of the private companies (Suez and Veolia) were transformed into a single public operator, Eau de Paris. In her article Le Strat argues that public management has significant advantages, such as transparency and reinvestment of profits. She details which cost savings have been made.

See the article here:

English

Spanish

French

ACP-EU Water Partnerships attracting attention – news letter and website

catherine — 2010-08-24T14:33:08Z

(24 August 2010) In 2010 the EU earmarked €40 million of the ACP-EU Water Facility to support water partnership projects. These are not-for-profit partnerships intended to: “develop capacity in the ACP water & sanitation sector, leading to better water and sanitation governance and management, and to the sustainable development and maintenance of infrastructure”.

The European Commission is awarding grants to partnerships in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. EPSU/PSI and several other organisations have supported this initiative and are encouraging its use. PSIRU at the University of Greenwich has created the www.acp-eu-waterpartnerships.org website to support the ACP-EU water partnerships. The www.acp-eu-waterpartnerships.org website helps water utilities, local authorities and civil society organisations access and use EU aid to build not-for-profit ACP-EU water partnerships.

It is funded under a contract from the European Commission.

Please find attached a briefing and a news letter.


ACP-EU Water briefing


ACP-EU Water newsletter

EU urges higher water prices as supplies dry up

Veronique — 2010-05-20T09:48:13Z

(20 May 2010) The European Commission is undertaking a review of its water policy. One of the messages is that water prices will have to agree for water users. And while one of the sectors targeted to reduce wasteful use of water is the agriculture sector, there is also concern that water prices for citizens might go up. EPSU's concern is that the Commission is preparing the minds for a water rights market and liberalization of water services in the EU. A Commission spokes person has commented that water is a commodity like anything else.

For the EUObserver article by Leigh Phillips see: http://euobserver.com/9/30097 (EU urges higher water prices as supplies dry up)

For the Commission policy: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/577&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

For the speech of EU Commissioner Potocnik to the European Parliament Intergroup on Water:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/potocnik/headlines/news/pdf/speech_05_05_2010_water.pdf

Big victory for Italian unions and water activitists

catherine — 2010-04-27T07:43:42Z

The Italian unions and other water activists collected 100 000 signatures to demand a referendum to repeal a law of the Berlusconi government to privatise water services, and in just two days – over 10.000 in Rome and Puglia, thousands in Turin; Bologna; Milan etc.

The organizers saw long lines in hundreds of townhalls and town squares throughout Italy underlining the impopularity of the law. Many mayors and city councilors supported the action: In Molise Bishop Giancarlo Bregantini (Metropolitan Archbishop of Campobasso) signed on behalf of the four bishops of the Dioceses of the Province.

http://www.corriere.it/notizie-ultima-ora/Politica/Acqua-referendum-100mila-firme-due-giorni/26-04-2010/1-A_000100091.shtml

web site of the campaign:
http://www.acquabenecomune.org/raccoltafirme/

Rally against privatisation of water – Rome, close to 200.000 people

Veronique — 2010-03-23T14:19:22Z

(23 March 2010) The Berlusconi government adopted a law to privatise water services by forcing municipal companies to sell their shares. This is not accepted by many Italians and including by many water companies. The Italian water movement is starting a broad campaign to reverse the law. A kick of rally involving close to 200.000 people took place on Saterday 20 March 2010. EPSU affiliate CGIL-FP is part of the Italian water movement group.

For an article (IT)

http://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2010/03/20/news/corteo_acqua-2778409/

PHOTOs

http://roma.repubblica.it/cronaca/2010/03/20/foto/l_acqua_un_bene_pubblico-2784212/1/

click to enlarge

VIDEOs

http://tv.repubblica.it/dossier/acqua-libera-manifestazione/un-solo-grido-acqua-libera/44246?video=&pagefrom=1

http://www.acquabenecomune.org/spip.php?article7337

Coalition urges Commission to support Public-Public Partnerships more

Veronique — 2010-03-23T08:09:41Z

(23 March 2010) On the occasion of World Water Day, a broad global coalition of trade unions, water activists, environmental and social action groups supported the European Commission's funding for public-public partnerships and urged to Commission to continue on this track supporting such funding also for other areas of the world. EPSU supported the letter as well to the Development Commissioner.

For the letter:


Open letter to Commissioner Piebalgs

PSI on Public Public Partnerships

Veronique — 2010-03-22T14:36:15Z

(22 March 2010) On the occasion of World Water Day, Public Services International calls on our affiliated unions in the water and sanitation sector to actively participate in the new public-public partnership initiative sponsored by the European Union.


PSI Statement


water partnerships - note PSIRU

Report of Reclaiming Public Water Strategy seminar

Veronique — 2010-03-15T14:07:03Z

(15 March 2010) The detailed conclusions of the seminar are now available for EPSU affiliated unions on http://epsu.org/a/6338

See also http://epsu.org/a/6180 for a report on the meeting 1-3 February 2010

For another article on the meeting: 'Water Justice, like Water, Travels in Networks: Notes on Reclaiming Public Water' (published 22 March 2010): http://www.tni.org/article/water-justice-water-travels-networks-notes-reclaiming-public-water

Italian water activists start referendum to oppose privatization of water services

Veronique — 2010-03-04T08:36:43Z

(4 March 2010) The Berlusconi government adopted a law which demands of the regional and municipal governments that they reduce their ownership in the water companies. This law is controversial. Many municipalities, EPSU affiliate CGIL-FP and many water activists disagree and will organize a referendum to demand the repeal of the specific article which is the basis for the privatization. The organizers are planning a national demonstration on 20 March. Activisits in many places have established action committees to defend public water.

For the calls to the manifestation


Call to the demonstration on 20 March 2010


Water Demonstration Roma 20 March