EPSU Campaign for Public Water
Our Congress Decision EN 9. Taking the initiative for a petition to obtain a million signatures for water as a human right and water is not for sale DE 9. Initiative für eine Petition mit einer Million Unterschriften, die der Wasserversorgung unter dem Motto Unser Wasser ist nicht zu verkaufen den Status eines Menschenrechts zuerkennen will. ES 9. Tomen la iniciativa de recoger un millón de firmas para elevar la petición de que el agua sea un derecho humano y no esté en venta, FR 9. Initier une pétition dans le but d obtenir un million de signatures reconnaissant que l accès à l eau est un droit de l Homme et que l eau n est pas à vendre, IT 9. Prendere l iniziativa liniziativa per una petizione per raggiungere un milione di firme per affermare che l acqua rappresenta un diritto dell umanità e non è un bene che si può commercializzare,. SV 9. Ta initiativet till en namninsamling i syfte att samla in en miljon underskrifter för vatten som en mänsklig rättighet och om att vatten inte är till salu RU 9. Взять инициативу в петиции за сбор миллиона подписей касательно воды как права человека и воды не для продажи
Our Congress Decision 9. Taking the initiative for a petition to obtain a million signatures for water as a human right and water is not for sale based on national action to gain broad public support during 4 weeks in the month of May in 2010 inviting other water activists groups to join, setting aside resources for the development of campaign materials, assistance to the EPSU Secretariat and establishing a campaign steering committee to accompany the campaign
WHY? EC has sought and continues to seek liberalisation of water services Bolkestein 2002; EP 2003/4, Services Directive and now Barosso: internal market environmental services WTO GATS Many unions engaged g actions to oppose privatisation and liberalisation Support: in EP, National governments, water activists, trade unions Demands on Commission
Steering Committee
Water campaigns in Europe
WORLD WATER DAY Wednesday, 22 March 2006 Our water is not for sale! We want: Water and wastewater completely out of the services (Bolkestein s) s) directive Water and wastewater out of GATS. No liberalisation and privatisation of water and wastewater. Clean, safe and affordable drinking water is a human right. Water supply is a public service. This call is supported by EPSU (European Federation of Public Service Unions), ACOD (CGSP) and ACV Public Services, 11.11.11- Coalition for the Flemish North-South movement, PROTOS, Oxfam Solidarity, FOS, the Belgian Association for World Water contract, Attac Flanders.
EPSU Public Service Pledge 2009 I, as a candidate for the European Parliament elections 2009,,pledge the following: Foundations for Water I pledge that the European Parliament will reiterate that water is a human right. I pledge that I will not support commercialisation and liberalisation of water services and the privatisation of
European Citizens Initiative Article 11.4 Treaty of Lisbon. No less than one million citizens who are citizens of a significant number of member states may take the initiative of inviting the European Commission, within the framework of its powers, to submit any appropriate p proposal p on matters where citizens consider that a legal action of the Union is required for the purpose of implementing the Treaties.
Example of successful initiative? http://www.oneseat.eu/ The European Parliament should be located in Brussels It costs European taxpayers approximately 200 million euros a year to move the Parliament between Brussels/Belgium and Strasbourg/France. As a citizen of the European Union, I want the European Parliament to be located only in Brussels. Name Country E-Mail Your email will be used solely for this petition. Join 1265266 other european citizens in signing the petition! We have reached one million! (English only)
WATER FOR PEOPLE WATER FOR LIFE he signatories ask the European Commission to take an initiative: To recognize (access to ) water and sanitation as a fundamental human right in the European Union and in the UN To keep water and sanitation services public and prevent their commercialisation
Germany 82.046.000 164.092 906.902 90000 110000 Verdi Population 1/500th EPSU membership 1/10 of membership Target Unions which have been active, or which could be playing a lead role in their country Country (millions) Albania 3.170.000 6.340 31.021 Austria 8.355.260 16.711 135.000 13.500 60000 Unions already active GdG Armenia 3.230.000 6.460 10.862 Azerbaijan 8.627.900 17.256 33.435 Belgium 10.754.528 21.509 259.014 25.000 75000 Unions already active CGSP CSC-SP Belarus 9.671.900 19.344 29.940 Bosnia-Herzegovina 3.767.000 7.534 73.465 Bulgaria 7.606.551 15.213 41.784 4.100 7500 CITUB health/ Podkrepa construct Croatia 4.435.056435 8.870870 43.892 Cyprus 801.600 1.603 24.352 2.400 5000 semi-government employees Czech Republic 10.467.542 20.935 69.163 6.900 15000 Water union/ health union Denmark 5.519.441 11.039 487.917 48.000 60000 FOA 3F Estonia 1.340.415 2.681 4.666 450 1000 Rotal Finland 5.343.608 10.687 474.632 47000 60000 JHL and others France 65.073.482 130.147 385.881 38000 60000 CGT-SP, FO-SSSP CFDT interco
Targets Lessons from earlier campaigns If failure in one country needs to be made up in another For non-eu countries 1/10th of membership Citizens Initiative to force EU Commission to act Our experience will be invaluable in other Our experience will be invaluable in other cases
Ambitious
...Achievable...
Time Frame 22 March 2010 22 March 2011 Campaign moments 4 weeks in May 2010 Blue October week - 2010 Human Rights Day December 2010
Next Steps Create website and electronic signature infrastructure National coordinators/ contact persons National events/ calendar/ supporters... Steering Committee Consider European support groups MEPs; Public water companies; Water activists National level/ European level Frequently asked questions Legal issues Finalise text of petition Build up towards launch 22 March 2010