European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU)
Press Release – 8 September 2015
Victory for citizens, victory for the Human Right to Water!
Another milestone for the Human Right to Water.
With today's vote the EP demands that the EC make concrete legislative proposals to recognize the HR to water and sanitation as defined by the UN.
This victory is for the supporters of the Right to Water and also for democracy in the European Union. This vote adds support to the 1.9 million signature collected, backs up what the candidates to the Presidency of the European Commission previously agreed, and the report of the Economic and Social Committee as they all call on the Commission to act. The European Commission can't ignore the demand for concrete legislation.
The European Parliament rejected all the amendments that were watering down the spirit of the demands of the ECI.
Jan Willem Goudriaan, ECI vice president, comments “The explicit exclusion of water services from concessions Directive and from Trade negotiations is a long standing demand that the EP has supported”. He adds “It is very important that the members of the EU Parliament have taken the citizens demand into account. Water matters to them. The ECI right2water will continue to work until the European Union recognizes water and sanitation as a human right. Today is a day of joy”
For more information on the European Citizens Initiative Right2Water www.right2water.eu
For more information: EPSU, Pablo Sanchez, psanchez@epsu.org - 0032 (0) 474626633
EPSU is the European Federation of Public Service Unions. It is the largest federation of the ETUC and comprises 8 million public service workers from over 265 trade unions; EPSU organises workers in the energy, water and waste sectors, health and social services and local, regional and central government, in all European countries including the EU’s Eastern Neighborhood. EPSU is the recognized regional organization of Public Services International (PSI). For more information please go to: www.epsu.org
