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Caren Lay

Definite No to Privatisation of Water

„Water supply has to remain a public task. Only by this the access to affordable and cheap water can be warranted.» declares Caren Lay, Vice Party Chair of DIE LINKE in light of the planned directive in European Parliament, according to which municipalities in future have to tender water supply orders European-wide if exceeding € 8 Mio and should have to consider private providers as well. Caren Lay further:

There are already negative examples of water privatisation in other countries. In parts of Portugal the price for customers increased by 400 percent. In London a private company stints on water conduits, leading frequently to bursts. This shall now threaten consumers in whole Europe. Only the big corporations gain advantages by the EU-directory.

In Germany can be found examples as well. In summer, the Federal Cartel Office decreed that water prices in Berlin have to be decreased considerably. Water supply in the capital is partly in the hands of private companies RWE and Veolia, not caring for the needs of the people but to cash up. This is what municipalities maybe have to fear in future.

After the explosion in energy prices as a result of privatisation another shock threatens consumers. Water is for DIE LINKE part of basic supplies and does not qualify as commodity. The EU directory has to be stopped. Further we urgently need communal water counsels on-site to include the citizens.