Movement 136 accuses TAIPED for a series of irregularities in the process of opening envelopes of tender and intends to take legal action to stop the tender for the sale of EYATh. According to the representative Lazarus Angel, the statutory process was not followed. ” TAIPED did not call us, as it was required, in the opening of the envelopes of tenders, and refuses to give us information about the process, while refusing to give us even the record of decision blocking us from the competition.” As an argument, adds L. Angel, TAIPED argues that it is not obliged to provide information about the competition, because it’s a private company. This is what TAIPED supports in a four-page letter sent in response to the complaint lodged by Movement 136 in the decision to exclude us, says L. Angel. “But they do not give us the information we request to see why we were excluded and why other companies passed to the next stage of the competition,” he says. Movement 136 has requested the assistance of the public prosecutor, who sent a letter to TAIPED with Movement 136’s request and asks to take care at their discretion. But yet no response.

Recourse

“They behave like managing their own property. May TAIPED be a private company, but EYATh is a public property. It is a state company. And TAIPED must ensure the public interest, “said L. Angel. Furthermore he notes that he intends to use the information requested by the Movement 136 from TAIPED to the appeal which is about to fill in for the annulment of the tender for the privatization of EYATh. And TAIPED seems to try to stall so that they might delay the filing of the appeal, and by that to go ahead the competition and achieve the sale of EYATh, contrary to the will of the municipalities of Thessaloniki, who have decide to hold a referendum on the issue.

source: ΕΝΕΤ

[box] Over 130 civil society organisations, trade unions and individuals from Greece, Europe and around the world have teamed up with 50 Members of the European Parliament to send a letter to the bidders of the public water company in Thessaloniki urging them to drop their bid.[/box]

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The group has sent letters to companies including the French multinational Suez Environnement, Greek groups Aktor S.A and Terna Energy S.A as well as the Israeli groups Mekorot and Arison Investment concerning their reported bids for EYATH, the Thessaloniki Water and Sewage Company.

Under conditions imposed by the Troika to reduce Greece’s debt, EYATH has been put up for sale by the Greek government against the peoples’ wish. The citizens of the city, the workers as well as the municipalities of Thessaloniki oppose the sale of their public water and have set up different campaigns to stop this privatization.

“While in Greece there is no precedent, the international experience has shown that the privatisation of water has often resulted in the skyrocketing of prices and in some cases in the deterioration of water quality. Although the trend in Europe is towards remunicipalization of our water systems, we are being forced to go the opposite way here,” says Maria Kanellopoulou of initiative Save Greek Water. “EYATH is the first case of water privatization that we need to stop to make sure it does not spread to the rest of Greece,” she added. 

“Companies involved in water privatization have often found their reputations tarnished, their risks increased and their profits limited. The companies aiming to buy EYATH would be clearly basing their business model on opportunism and should take this as a warning sign of the difficulties to come,” said George Archontopoulos from the EYATH Workers Union.

“Last week the Eldorado Gold Corporation announced the suspension of production at the Halkidiki goldmine in Greece. This is another example of a company which is not wanted in Greece and which the people are prepared to fight against to stop the exploitation of one of their common resources. The residents have managed to stall the mine’s activities by a durable and dynamic resistance. This is the same situation we see for the protection of public water and EYATH in Thessaloniki,“ said Gabriella Zanzanaini, Director of European Affairs for Food & Water Europe.

“50 MEPs from the Conservatives, the Popular Party, the Liberals, the Greens, the Socialists and the Left from 18 countries cosigned the letter. This massive participation shows that international and local opposition to the sale of water services will pose a toll over any company that takes part in these privatizations. Companies should make a profit from the trade of private goods, not from acquiring market control over public goods. The European Parliament is sending a clear warning to the Greek government that the privatization of water is neither welcomed nor helping Greece to exit the crisis,” said Kriton Arsenis, Greek MEP, who helped to circulate the letter in the European Parliament.

The groups support keeping the profitable water company in public ownership, where real participation of citizens and workers in the management of water can happen. Considering the current European context where over 1, 600 000 citizens have signed the European Citizens Initiative to protect the right to water and the European Commission’s recent removal of water services from the controversial Concessions Directive, these companies would be going against the tide if they push forward on their bid for EYATH. 

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THE LETTER

We do not want you in Thessaloniki. Please withdraw your bid.

To the companies bidding for EYATH, the Thessaloniki Water and Sewage Company

The press has reported that your company is participating in a bid for Eyath, the Thessaloniki Water and Sewage Company. We ask you to withdraw your bid.

You will be aware that the privatisation of Eyath is opposed by the citizens of the city, by the workers as well as by the municipalities of Thessaloniki. The only reason that this privatisation is going ahead is because it is imposed by the Greek government, itself under pressure from the Troika to reduce Greek debt. There is nothing noble in profiting from this privatisation for you and your company. People in Thessaloniki, supported by many groups are concerned that you pursue profits at the expense of workers and citizens. As in other places, you will likely face years of protracted opposition both in Thessaloniki, Greece and across the world. These struggles are well documented. The companies involved find their reputations tarnished, their credibility in shreds, their risks increased and profits limited. We believe your bid is based on a feeble business case. We would hope that corporations today don’t base their business model on opportunism, nor venture into initiatives where they are clearly unwelcome.

There is an alternative to your bid that is supported by the workers of Eyath, by Thessonikians, by the municipalities, and us. That is to keep water in public ownership and ensure it can continue to deliver a high quality service. It is based on the fact that water is a common good and access to drinking water and sanitation is a basic human right as recognized by the UN (2010) and the successful European Citizens Initiative “Water a Human Right”.

We therefore ask you to withdraw your bid and let the citizens of Thessaloniki determine the future of Eyath.

Yours sincerely,

 Signed by

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GREECE

Organisations

Art Bank, Greece

·       Athens Initiative for a self – organized field at Hellenikon, Greece

·       Citizens of Pilio against the privatization and sell-off of water, Greece

·       Citizens’ Initiative for a fundamental constitutional revision

·       Consumer Social Cooperative of Thessaloniki “Βίος Coop”, Greece

·       Ecological Group “Mother Earth”, Pieria, Greece

·       Ecology-Solidarity (Oikologia – Allilengyi), Greece

·       Ecological Movement of Thessaloniki, Greece

·       Ecology-Greens (Oikologi – Prasinoi) of Central Macedonia

·       EDOTH N/T ADEDY THESSALONIKIS

·       ELE Audit committee for the public debt of Greece

·       Environmental Society of Preveza, Greece

·       FOINIX Organization for sustainable growth applications, Crete

·       Free Popular Resistance Group (E.L.L.A.S.), Greece

·       Hellenic Biodiversity Center, Greece

·       Ikaria Center for Documentation, Research and Action, Greece

·       Initiative 136, Greece

·       Initiative for an understanding of waste disposal management, Greece

·       Network of Exchange and Solidarity of Magnesia, Greece

·       Pancretan Struggle Network against Industrial Renewable Energy Sources

·       People’s University of Social Solidarity Economy, Greece

·       PROSKALO – Cooperation Initiative for the Social and Solidarity Economy

·       SEEYATH, Somateio Ergazomenon EYATH, Greece

·       SOStetoNERO, Greece

·       Save Greek Water, Greece

·       Trade Unions Centre of Thessaloniki, part of G.S.E.E, Greece

·       Without Debt, Without Euro – Community of Thought and Action, Greece

EUROPE

Organisations

·       Action from Ireland, Ireland

·       Agua de Todos, Portugal

·       Abvakabo FNV, The Netherlands

·       Aquattac

·       Alburnus Maior Association (Save Rosia Montana Campaign)

·       Asociatia Bankwatch Romania

·       Associação Sindical dos Profissionais da Inspecção Tributária, Portugal

·       ATTAC Austria

·       ATTAC Castilla y León, Spain

·       ATTAC España

·       ATTAC Norway

·       Berliner Wassertisch, Germany

·       BSRB Federation of State and Municipal Employees, Iceland

·       Campaign for the Welfare State, Norway

·       Centro di Volontariato Internazionale, Italia

·       CGSP Centrale Générale des Services Publics Wallonne, Belgium

·       Confederação Portuguesa das Colectividades de Cultura, Recreio e Desporto (CPCCRD), Portugal

·       Coordination Eau Île-de-France, France

·       Corporate Europe Observatory

·       Coordination Gaz-Électricité-Eau Bruxelles, Belgium   

     Coordination Rhône-Méditerranée des Associations des Usagers de l’Eau, France

     CSC-FEC, Belgium

·       Eau Bien Commun PACA, France

·       Eau Secours 34, France

·       Ecologistas en Acción, Spain

·       Eco Ruralis Association – In support of traditional and organic farmers

·       ELA, Basque Workers Solidarity

·       Euracme, Belgium

·       European Federation of Food Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions, Belgium

·       European Federation of Public Service Unions

·       European Water Movement

·       Federacion de Empleados Publicos de la Union Sindical Obrera, España

·       Federation “Construction, Industry and Water-Supply” – “PODKREPA”, Bulgaria

·       Fédération des services publics CGT, France

·       FOA – Trade and Labour, Denmark

·       Food & Water Europe

·       Forum Italiano Movimenti per l’Acqua, Italy

·       Foundation for Environment and Agriculture, Bulgaria

·       France Libertés – Fondation Danielle Mitterrand, France

·       Gemeingut in BürgerInnenhand (GiB), Germany

·       GoodPlanet Belgium

·       Government and Public Entities Section – General Workers’ Union, Malta

·       InfOMG – Information Center about GMO’s, Romania

·       Ingénieurs sans frontières, Belgium

·       Institut Européen de Recherche sur la Politique de l’Eau, Belgium

·       Kairos Europe

·       Marée Citoyenne, France

·       Movimento Pela Água, Portugal

·       Mouvement Utopia, France

·       Pancyprian Freedom Guild Worker Water Boards, Cyprus

·       Parti ÉGALITÉ, Belgium

·       Social Development Cooperative, The Netherlands

·       SIPTU Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union, Ireland

·       Swedish Municipal Workers Union, Kommunal, Sweden

·       Sindikata zdravstva Crne Gore, Montenegro

·       The Angry Youth – informal group in Cluj-Napoca, Romania

·       The Corner House, UK

·       The Finnish Public Services Unions’ EU Party FIPSU ry, Finland

·       The Slovak-Scandinavian cooperative Urd, Slovakia

·       Trade Union of Local Government Employess, Denmark

·       Trade Union of State and Local Goverment Employees, Croatia

·       Trade Union of  Public and Welfare Sectors JHL ry, Finland

·       Objectif Ô, Belgium

·       Organic Agriculture Association, Albania

·       Oxfam Solidarité, Belgium

·       PROTOS, Belgium

·       Re:Common, Italy

·       Re.Generation – Bucharest, Romania

·       VISION, Sweden

·       Vodovod I Kanalizacija, Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina

·       Water Movement Norway

·       WIB “Wasser in Bürgerhand”, Germany

·       Unison, Bristol Water Services Branch, UK

·       UNIÃO DOS SINDICATOS DE LISBOA (USL/CGTP-IN), Portugal

·       Zukunftskonvent, Germany

INTERNATIONAL

Organisations

·       Alliance of Government Workers in the Water Sector, Philippines

·       Blue Planet Project, Canada

·       Canadian Union of Public Employees, Canada

·       Citizen’s Front for Water Democracy (CFWD), India

·       Confederation Chretienne des Syndicats Malgaches “Sekrima”, Madagascar

·       Federación Nacional de Trabajadores del Agua Potable del Peru, Peru

·       Federation of Parastatal Bodies and Other Unions, Mauritius

·       Food & Water Watch, USA

·       Information Resource Centre (For Mah. labour) Nagpur, India

·       Jubilee South Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development

·       KRuHA people’s coalition for the right to water, Indonesia

·       LDA EU, Pakistan

·       Nagpur Municipal Corporation Employees Union, India

·       National Platform Against Water Privatization (NPAWP), India

·       The Council of Canadians, Canada

·       Transnational Institute

·       Public Sector Employees Fedration of Pakistan, Pakistan

·       Public Service Alliance of Canada, Canada

·       Public Services International

·       Red Vida, the Americas

·       South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU), South Africa

·       Su Hakki Kampanyasi, Turkey

·       Swarna Hansa Foundation, Sri Lanka

·       Water & Energy Users’ Federation (WAFED), Nepal

Members of the European Parliament

·       ANDERSON Martina, Confederal Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left, Ireland

·       ARLACCHI Pino, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Italy

·       ARSENIS Kriton, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Greece

·       BALDINI Marino,Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Croatia

·       BÈLIER Sandrine, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, France

·       BENNAHMIAS Jean-Luc, Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, France

·       CASHMAN Michael, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, United Kingdom

·       CASTEX Françoise, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, France

·       CHILDERS Nessa, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Ireland

·       COFFERATI Sergio Gaetano, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Italy

     DELVAUX Anne, Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats), Belgium

·       EICKHOUT Bas, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Netherlands

·       GARCIA-HIERRO CARABALLO Dolores, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Spain

·       HÂNDEL Thomas, Confederal Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left, Germany

·       JAAKONSAARI Liisa, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Finland

·       JADOT Yannick, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, France

·       JONG de Cornelis, Confederal Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left, Netherlands

·       KADENBACH Karin, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Austria

·       KLEVA KEKUŠ Mojca, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Slovenia

·       KOVÀCS Béla, Non-attached Members, Hungary

·       LAMBERT Jean, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, United Kingdom

·       LEICHTFRIED Jörg, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Austria

·       LEINEN Jo, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Germany

·       MERKIES Judith A., Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Netherlands

·       MILANA Guido, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Italy

·       MIRANDA Ana, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Spain

·       PALECKIS Justas Vincas, Lithuania

·       PAPADOPOULOU Antigoni, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Cyprus

·       PERELLO RODRIGUEZ, Andres, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Spain

·       PIRILLO Mario, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Italy

·       PITTELA Gianni, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Italy

·       PRODI Vittorio, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Italy

·       REGNER Evelyn, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Austria

·       RIVASI Michèle, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, France

·       ROMEVA I RUEDA Raül, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Spain

·       RÜHLE Heidi, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Germany

·       SCHOLZ Helmut, Confederal Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left, Germany

·       SIMON Peter, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Germany

·       STADLER Ewald, Non-attached member, Austria

·       STAES Bart, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Belgium

·       TARABELLA Marc, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Belgium

·       TOIA Patrizia, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Italy

·       ULVSKOG Marita, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Sweden

·       VAJGL Ivo, Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Slovenia

·       WEIDENHOLZER Josef, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Austria

·       WILS Sabine, Confederal Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left, Germany

·       WOJCIECHOWSKI Janusz, European Conservatives and Reformists Group, Poland

·       ZANONI Andrea, Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Italy

·       ZIMMER Gabi, President of Confederal Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left, Germany, Germany

INDIVIDUALS 

 ·     David McDonald, Professor, Queen’s University, Canada

·       David Barkin, Profesor de Economía, Mexico

·       Lucienne THIPHAINE, journaliste et plasticienne. France

·       Ursula Pezeu, sophrologist, translator, France

·       Jutta Schutz, Aquattac

·       Leslie Franke and Herdolor Lorenz, Kernfilm

·       Evgnomia Xinu, Thessaloniki, Greece

·       Christophe Thurotte, Chargé d’études, GAIA Concept, France

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Written Press Release in English

The whole letter by Anna Zoirou

To: His Excellency, the Prime Minister of Greece, Mr Antonis Samaras

26 March 2013

Prime Minister,

Last Saturday, while I were in Brussels working on my PhD, I was informed (off the record instead of by Mr. Stournaras as should formally have been the case) that a decision exists for my replacement. Such decision was taken on Friday 22 March, only a few after receiving Mr. Stournaras’ thanks for the issues I brought to his attention.

The decision for my replacement takes effect only a few days before the completion of the privatization process for OPAP and DEPA-DESFA.

Of course everyone understands that it also is the latest of the actions taken by Messrs Stournaras and Athanasopoulos (you know that the latter is persecuted with felony charges as an embezzler of Public Funds) in order not only to obtain unanimity in the TAIPED Board during the decision taking procedure, both in the above cases and in others to come, but also to stop me from pointing out publicly problems and illegalities that appeared during such.

You, and everyone else involved, know that I never accepted being a puppet of certain interests nor would I ever agree to becoming just another yes-person in a board whose members only seem to care for pleasing those that appointed them there. I have built my career, in Greece and abroad, based on my powers and abilities and always acting according to certain principles I cannot and will not abandon for anyone’s sake.

While working for TAIPED I have continuously been pressed to agree to all proposals. In the cases I had to disagree I insisted that my objections be entered in the minutes of the Board meetings. I also proposed and insisted that such minutes become available to the Greek people, because they have the right to know how the TAIPED Board deals with the public property. I wonder what the Board members are afraid of in and they insist in keeping such documents secret, even to MoPs.

I have to point out too that when the TAIPED Board informed the Parliamentary Committee on Financial Issues on matters concerning EYATh, they “forgot” to mention my disagreement to this privatization procedure. During my term as a TAIPED Board Member, I never ever agreed to anything without first completely examining all issues relevant to the case. Other Board members of course claiming their incomplete knowledge of English technical terms always trustfully consented to the suggestions put forth by Mr Takis Athanasopoulos (the one with the felony charges, in case you have forgotten whom I refer to). Of course I had to object to such breaches of the Board procedures.

I could never consent to hiring “friends” and paying them € 4.000 or € 5.000 per month at a time when the vast majority of the Greek people have to suffer huge cuts in their salaries and pensions, nor could I go along with dubious procedures as the ones followed by other Board Members (on the OPAP Lottery Ticket Public Tender) that led to the exclusion of all contestants, except, of course, a certain one.

As far as DEPA is concerned I still wonder how Members of the TAIPED Board could agree to changing the rules of the Public Tender after the initial offers of the contestants have been received and made public: of course this led to several of the contestants obtaining certain bonuses vs the rest, which obviously directly contravenes the idea itself of healthy competition and equal chances.

I also could not agree to the statement that TAIPED cannot find the time to set up and use an open public competition to obtain the best of advisors needed choosing instead to length or renew existing contracts of several such costing millions of Euros.

To me the actions of Mr. Stournaras are a proof that my stance as to the issues mentioned above, and maybe other ones too, has been annoying to people both in TAIPED and in other places.

In case you are not already aware of it, let me inform you that I completely and absolutely rejected a lot of advances made to me both from and on behalf of several businesses. I always considered that my participation in the TAIPED Board should have as its target the safeguarding of the public interest not the facilitation of those who try to obtain the Greek public property in as low a price as possible.

Several months ago the members of the TAIPED Board unanimously agreed not to sign the contract with OPAP’s technical infrastructure provider in order not to put unneeded restrains to the new owner. This same issue, however, was to be discussed and decided upon in the OPAP Shareholders Meeting of today: TAIPED (through Mr. Athanasopoulos) offered no objections despite there not existing a Board decision contrary to the above.

Finally I feel obliged to point out that I consider it an honor to be replaced because I feared not putting forth and supporting to the end my objections, especially at this time when the Chairman of the Board, who opposed me, is persecuted on embezzlement charges, while the actions of certain members of the Advisory Council are already under investigation by the Greek Courts.

I don’t consider that such actions of your government have any connection with the democratic procedures you claim to use. I feel and will always feel proud for my work with the TAIPED Board. My conscience is clear: I know that I tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to safeguard the public interest and I hope that the day will come when those who did not will answer to justice.

Anyway, the Greek Courts are the ones who will decide on the rationality and the timing of Mr. Stournaras’ decision to replace me such a short time before the completion of the Public Tenders for OPAP and DEPA.

Sincerely,

Anna Zoirou

relevant TAIPED Press Release

Athens

1st April 2013

Anna Zoirou was relieved from her duties as a member of the Board of TAIPED by decision of the General Meeting of the Fund.

TAIPED does not comment on her statements, however, highlights the following:
The Board members of TAIPED, are appointed by the Greek State and bound with confidentiality obligations. They are called upon to operate and serve with integrity, transparency and efficiency to the purposes of the Fund. At the same time, they must consent to the use of public property in the best possible way, ensuring the legitimacy of the proceedings, but also the highest possible price within the agreed timelines.

In any company or organization anywhere in the world, if a Board member is unable to serve in his role in its specific context, for any reason or expediency, either places him outside the organization or is replaced so the Board can accomplish without problems its plans.