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Berlin says no to water privatization

Source: Giornalettismo.com of February 14, 2011

The referendum in the city rejects the expectations of public service companies

Berlin says nein to water privatized.

The referendum that would set aside the partial privatization of water services management company ended yesterday with a triumph of the so: it served at least 616,571, 665,713 are reached. A result that surprised the promoters themselves.

an essential item - In the evening, writes Alex Alviano the Press, in a circus tent near the old route of the Wall that have rented to follow the results, there were more journalists and supporters of the referendum. "We had hoped, but I did not expect more given the low turnout in the morning, "said Andreas Fuchs, treasurer of the committee secretary. "It is proof that much can be done with few resources," he adds, noting that the Committee had just 12 000 euro obtained by donations. By way of comparison, the organizers of the referendum on religion in school, failed two years ago, had collected hundreds of thousands of euro. "An essential commodity like water can not be a source of profit, we want to come back in public hands" rejoices the spokesman of the committee, Thomas Rudek. "It's a sign for you in Italy," fits her colleague Dorothea Harlin. The referendum asked to publish the contract with which the Land of Berlin in 1999 sold to companies RWE and Veolia 49.9% of the municipal water services (Berliner Wasserbetriebe). According to Rudek, since 2001, water charges have risen by 35% and are now among the highest in Germany. In Berlin, a cubic meter of water costs € 5.12, 3.26 in Cologne.

public hands - Under pressure from developers, the City published in November about 700 pages of partial privatization contract: It shows that the city has guaranteed high profit margins to RWE and Veolia. Not only that, but from 1999 to 2009 RWE and Veolia have earned more profits in Berlin (1.3 billion versus 696 million), and that although the city-state holds 50.1% of Berliner Wasserbetriebe. According to press leaks in 1999 were signed five other agreements whose contents are still secret. Now the parliament of the Land is to vote on a bill full publication of the privatization contract. In case of refusal, the referendum committee is ready to take action. His ultimate goal however is to restore the BerlinerWasserbetriebe entirely in public hands. While avoiding to replicate what has happened in nearby Potsdam, where the company management of water services has been rimunicipalizzata ten years ago but prices have gone up and now a cubic meter of water costs more than in Berlin: 5.82 € . On Saturday, the city government had declared unnecessary consultation. Last night the Mayor Klaus Wowereit has tried to contain the damage. The result confirms our politics, he said. Berlin is in fact in talks with RWE to buy back its stake in Berliner Wasserbetriebe.