Right to Water: Hearing at the European Parliament

On 17 February, 2014, a hearing at the European Parliament (EP) took place for the ‘Right to Water’ European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Water is a human right’. The hearing was preceded by a meeting with the European Commission aiming at illustrating the objective of the campaign led by ‘Right to Water’, which is to obtain the following: guaranteed water and sanitation for all in Europe; no liberalisation of water services, and universal (global) access to water and sanitation. In addition to these requests, the campaign places emphasis on the need to keep water out of trade agreements.

The campaign is a tool to commit the EU and Member States to implement the human right to water and sanitation. The hearing was well attended and a success. The Commission has now until 20 March to get back to ‘Right to Water’ with a response and the relevant proposals.

Further information on the campaign is available at http://www.right2water.eu