Safe and cheap water for everyone

EU listens to people's concerns in first ever Citizens’ Initiative Right2Water

"The way we use water defines the future of humanity", said Michel Dantin MEP, the lead negotiator for the European Parliament on the dossier on water quality, welcoming the changes to existing legislation on drinking water. "The Citizens’ Initiative Right2Water gathered more than 1.8 million signatures. It is a must that it is taken seriously", he said.

Changes to the Drinking Water Directive adopted today aim to improve the quality of drinking water and access to it as well as provide better information for consumers.

"Now that the Parliament has adopted its position, it is time for the Member States to do the same. We think it is crucial for the negotiations to end as soon as possible, so citizens can bear results without delays", stressed the MEP.

For the EPP Group, it is also important to reiterate that the debate on the quality of drinking water is not a debate about who should and who should not have access to water.

"It is understood that everyone should have access to clean and good quality water, and we should do our utmost to make it as affordable as possible for everyone. Insisting that countries absorb the costs through their state budgets goes against existing country traditions, and is only a mirage because in the end, it is always the taxpayer that foots the bill", said Dantin.

The dossier at hand is the result of the first-ever successful European Citizens’ Initiative, called Right2Water. It gathered over 1.8 million signatures in support of improving access to safe drinking water for all Europeans.