They have been working proactively on positions and ‘lobbying’ to European decision-makers to finally get recognised in the European law that water is not just any product on the market, but is a public service. The European Union’s decision-making process on the Green Paper and the White Paper on Services of General Interests as well as the public interpretation of the European Parliament, conclusions on the service directives can be regarded as steps towards this exemption from the internal market and competition rules. Still, CEEP with its working group continues to take further initiatives in order to safeguard a proper policy on water which is a public concern.

Moreover, the working group initiated in 2005 the creation of a new cross-sectoral working group on originally “bench-marking”, whereby experiences were from water companies, as CEEP members give the basis for a new approach as one alternative and completion to tendering; Transparent Public Service Evaluation (TPSE).

While this is mainly a self – operated evaluation in the water sector by all the different actors including consumers, it seems to be a successful tool for higher performance, sustainability, cost-effectiveness and so forth…

Chair of WG: Peter SUCHOMEL

Secretariat support: Mireille VANDOMME