[box] A voting was adopted by the City Council of Ierapetra  against water privatization. It is the first Cretan Municipality to move in this direction and we hope that others will follow soon.[/box]

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RESOLUTION

 The Ierapetra (Crete, Greece) City Council convened on 28^th May 2013 and unanimously accepted a proposition of Mayor Sefes Anastasakes concerning the privatization of water services in Greece. According to  Municipal Resolution 130/2013:

The (Ierapetra) Municipal Council herewith declares its objection to the privatization of any institution(s) dealing with water services. The Municipal Council is willing to use any and all means so that water remains a public good used for the welfare of the people.

Water is a public good and not a commodity! We ask that the EU Commission proposes a legislation that will safeguard the people’s right to access to water not only as a means for life itself but for hygiene and irrigation purposes too. The EU must press governments to provide all citizens with clear, drinkable water as well as keep hygiene services to a high standard and also provide adequate amounts of water for irrigation purposes. We suggest:

• That the EU as well as the member state comply to their obligation to provide water, hygiene and irrigation services to all citizens.

•  That water services and management of water resources remain always under public control beyond the “free” market rules and to prohibit  water market liberalization.

• That the EU strive harder so that all EU inhabitants have access to water services, hygiene services and irrigation water where appropriate.

 For the Ierapetra City Council

 Chairman                         Secretary                      Members

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[box] 16 May 2013: The Ilion Municipality Council, having hold a meeting on the privatization of EYDAP, unanimously declared that: “This Council stands against the privatization of any company or institution dealing in public goods. As EYDAP deals with water, which is the number one public good and a natural resource, we can only oppose its privatization and we hereby declare our will to use any and all legal means in order for water to remain a public good used for public welfare. Our decision applies also to the recycled Psytalleia water, which, after being biologically processed, can easily be used for irrigation purposes in Attica both within and outside the city limits.”[/box]

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22 May 2013

A resolution concerning the privatization of EYDAP

In a meeting held on Thursday 16 may 2013, the Ilion Municipality Council (Attica, Greece) unanimously came to the following resolution:

“The Ilion Municipality Council stands against the privatization of any company or institution dealing in public goods. As EYDAP deals with water, which is the number one public good and a natural resource, we can only oppose its privatization and we hereby declare our will to use any and all legal means in order for water to remain a public good used for public welfare. Our decision applies also to the recycled Psytalleia water, which, after being biologically processed, can easily be used for irrigation purposes in Attica both within and outside the city limits. Water is a natural source of life, is absolutely necessary to all human beings and can be used as a means for the development of a country. We cannot ever allow it to become a trade commodity used for private profit. It shall remain a natural resource available to all citizens; vulnerable social groups shall have access to it in special low prices. As already has been internationally proved, the privatization of water resources led to higher prices, bad maintenance of the necessary infrastructures, the lowering of its quality, neglect for environmental protection, a rise in losses during transfer and the depletion of the water sources. The tendency therefore, all over Europe, is for water companies to return to public/municipal management. The Ilion Municipal Council, considering that water management must be run by public authorities, demands that EYDAP be exempted from privatization. In order to protect the water resources and the environment in our country we are prepared to cooperate with other municipal councils to this purpose.”

This resolution shall be sent to YPEKA (Special Water Resources Bureau) and made public through the Internet and the local press

Dimitrios Koukouvinos

Chairman

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[box] A Referendum against the privatization was unanimously decided  by the municipality of Thessaloniki at the same day of the deadline  for expressions of interest for the sale of EVATH.Thessalonians answered in the most democratic way to authoritarian decisions of the European economic elite and their willing collaborators of greek interests , that plunder  the corpse of the devasteted Greek society and have now decided to get their hands on the monopoly of water, one with certain profits and abundant state subsidies.[/box]

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Republication from Egnatia Translation SAVEGREEKWATER

The Thessaloniki Municipal Council unanimously accepted a proposition put forth by its chairman Panagiotis Avramopoulos, namely that the issue of EYATh being sold to private institutions be referred to a public plebiscite. Mr. Avramopoulos said he is absolutely certain that the vast majority of Thessaloniki citizens will decide against the privatization and thus the government in Athens will have to face the consequences of its decision.

The meeting opened with a speech by Socrates Famellos (Major of Therme and representative of the local citizen initiative SOS-for-water) whose proposition was for a citizen controlled institution, supported by the local municipalities, to take over local water management. He also insisted on supporting the campaign of the European Citizens’ Initiative for bringing the issue of water management to the EU Parliament.

“Water is a common good and shall belong to all of us. Its management shall be under municipal and citizen control as privatization has up to now only led to price increase, loss of work positions, decrease in the quality of services offered and environmental endangerment”, said Mayor Famellos.

Thessalonike Mayor, Giannis Boutares, once more asked that the local (state owned) water company be turned over to municipal control.

He also said that the state monopoly shall in no way become a municipal monopoly: the area municipalities (all those watered from Aliakmon and/or Aravissos) shall instead create a metropolitan institution dealing with water and hygiene and all investments related to these, while issues such as biological purification shall also be given a high priority. He finally reminded the council that in Europe the tension is towards returning water companies to public control.

George Archontopoulos, chairman of the EYATh personnel Union, supported the proposition for a citizen referendum, as did all leaders of the parties represented in the Municipality Council.

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[box] In the open popular assembly against the privatization of EYATH organized on the 28 of March by the EYATH Employees Union  Thermi Municipality was represented by the Mayor Theodoros Papadopoulos and Deputy Mayor of Planning, Development & Communication Socrates Famellos. They renewed their support in every effort against EYATH privatization and reported that the Municipality of Thermi had adopted a relevant resolution since 2011[/box]

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Resolution of the Therme Municipality Council nr. 288/2011

Don’t give EYATh away – Support the EYATh Workers Union

 At the same time when the Water and Hygiene services in big European cities, such as Paris and Berlin, are returned to municipal control, the Greek Government proceeds with selling EYATh to private companies, despite what the Prime Minister promised in his speech (2009 Thessaloniki International Exhibition) namely that “water resources are not to be privatized”. EYATh is a public company dealing in water for the common good, has profits and is not burdened with any loan payments.

The international tendency towards returning water services to the public sector is based on the following principles and facts:

Water is a common social good, necessary for life itself, and thus cannot become a trading commodity used for the profit of private interests. Everyone shall have access to it especially the lower and suffering parts of human society.

Private control of water led to:

• Minimal investment and the neglect of maintenance on water networks
• Increases on the water price
• A lowering on the quality of services mainly due to huge decreases in personnel
• Depletion of the water reserves through overconsumption

We need to prepare for the climate change whose presence is already known and the shortage of water this will lead to. Therefore water consumption shall be controlled by the public authorities, otherwise it will easily become just another factor leading to the increase of profits of those that control it irrespective of any consequences.

We consider it absolutely unacceptable that the water networks, constructed by the Greek State with public funds, are to be sold to private speculators especially at such a low price. This decision for the alienation of an important factor of public wealth inevitably leads to the loss of the know-how acquired by EYATh during its long years of public service that can and shall be used for the public good.

We insist that EYATh be kept a public company and that it shall be turned over to the control of the local municipalities – representatives of its actual investors and shareholders, the citizens of the Thessaloniki area.

The government’s decision entails catastrophic consequences in that it alienates one of the most important local industries against the real needs of the country for investment and development.

Therefore we stand in allegiance to the EYATh personnel and ask for a plebiscite to decide for or against the privatization of water and sewage services.

Referendum NOW that water is a common good!

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An open discussion will take place at Pallini on Wednesday, 30 January at 18:30 (Cultural Center – Winery Peter L. 117 Marathon, next OAED Pallini), organized by ANESPAA. (Development, Environmental, Consumer and Scientific Association of the Citizens of Eastern Attica)

The event will begin with the screening of the documentary “Life For Sale”, by the journalist G. Avgeropoulos, dealing with the negative experience of the privatization of water in other countries. The journalist Mr. Avgeropoulos will open the event and introduce the subject.
After the screening, representatives of the union of employees of EYDAP and others from  the citizens’ initiative «SAVEGREEKWATER»(for the non privatization of water in Greece), will inform the attendees on the problems that will be caused by  the imminent privatization of greek water companies  (EYDAP and EYATH), and what were the consequences of privatization in France, Germany, Canada, etc.
After the event, a resolution will be voted and signed by the residents of the area which is to be delivered to the Municipal Councils of Eastern Attica.

facebook event link

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[box] The Thessaloniki Municipality Council voted a resolution against the privatization of EYATH. The text is short and clear. There still remains to be seen how this resolution will convert to political actions. [/box]

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Municipality of Thessaloniki

Council Meeting of 21 January 2013

Resolution for keeping EYATH a public controlled company

The Council unanimously decided:

In view of the commencement of the procedures through which the EYATH shares will be given to private persons/companies, the Council feels compelled to once more state that, water being a public and social resource, it cannot be submitted to the rules of free market nor can it become an item used for private profits.

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The voting is as follows:

We, the delegation of SADAS-PEA, with this decision we declare that we oppose the sale of the country’s water corporations to private entities.

We believe that such a development directly contradicts public interest and we maintain our reservations as to the right of a private corporation (or any other legal entity for that matter) to own the exclusive or partial rights to the exploitation of water resources, water being a natural resource that is absolutely essential to the survival of humans, plants and animals, a resource that is indeed protected by both European legislation (framework directive 2000/60) ⁽¹⁾ and the United Nations, which on 28 July 2010 passed a resolution adding the access to clear water in its declaration of human rights (AG/10967) ⁽²⁾.

As for the Athenian public water company, EYDAP, which was founded (Law 1068/1980) as a 100% state-owned company, we have already observed the gradual change of its legal status with the issuance of company shares during the premiership of K. Simitis (Law 2794/1999) and we directly contest the soundness of the latest relevant development, which was to include EYDAP as well as the profitable EYATH (the public water company of Thessaloniki) ⁽⁴⁾ in the SA-type corporation with the discretionary title “Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund S.A.” founded by Law 3986/2011 ⁽³⁾, in article 1.2 of which is stated that, “The product of the assets utilization is used exclusively to pay off the country’s public debt” ⁽⁵⁾. The public electricity company, DEI, is also directly related to the country’s water resources. Artificial lakes, reservoirs and hydroelectric plants are crucial for residential water supply and irrigation through the relevant municipal companies. The sale of such assets of DEI is equally condemnable. ^{(6) (7)}

At a time when public education and public health are shrinking as if they were unnecessary luxury items that cannot be financed, we hereby sound a note of warning. If the fundamental social contract of reciprocity crumbles to the ground, no citizen shall be obligated to pay any direct or indirect taxes. Even if you ignore us and proceed, we, the Greek citizens, shall fight to nullify your actions, as happened in Paris on 1/1//2010. ⁽⁹⁾

The history of privatizations has amply demonstrated that the water always returns to its source.

Sincerely,

DELEGATION  of SADAS-Panhellenic Architects Union

Meeting of 07.07.2012

source

It is since June 2011 that Pavlos Melas Municipality adopted a resolution against EYATH privatization.

PAVLOS MELAS MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF SHARES OF EYATh

The majority of the town councilors of Pavlos Melas, in its meeting of 1^st June 2011, issued the following statement

WE SAY NO TO THE SELLING OF EYATh – WATER SHALL BE DEMOCRATICALY MANAGED

 At the same time when the Water and Hygiene services in big European cities, such as Paris and Berlin, are returned to municipal control, the Greek Government proceeds with selling EYATh to private companies, despite what the Prime Minister promised in his speech (2009 Thessaloniki International Exhibition) namely that “water resources are not to be privatized”. EYATh is a public company dealing in water for the common good, has profits and is not burdened with any loan payments.

The international tendency towards returning water services to the public sector is based on the following principles and facts:

Water is a common social good, necessary for life itself, and thus cannot become a trading commodity used for the profit of private interests. Everyone shall have access to it especially the lower and suffering parts of human society.

Private control of water led to:

Minimal investment and the neglect of maintenance on water networks

Increases on the water price

A lowering on the quality of services mainly due to huge decreases in personnel

Depletion of the water reserves through overconsumption

And will, if they are not stopped, lead to an ecological crisis, when drinkable water will be scarce in the near future

For the reasons stated above, following the example set by popular actions all over the world, we support the campaign of the EYATh personnel for a plebiscite with the question of whether water services can become a privately controlled monopoly.

Real democracy now!

Referendum for water  to remain a public good!