Friends of the Earth Netherlands and Dutch MP's | June 18, 2002

Amsterdam 17 June 2002 - On Tuesday morning, Friends of the Earth Netherlands and the Dutch MP's - Bert Koenders (PvdA), Harry van Bommel, Farah Karimi (GroenLinks) en Boris van der Ham (D66), will present more than 12,000 signed cards to the Trade Secretary Gerrit Ybema (D66). The signers are asking Ybema to ensure that the World Trade Organization (WTO) calls a halt to plans to liberalize the world's water resources.

The cards will be presented to Ybema in large water bottles. The members of Parliament will present an enlarged version of the card signed by their colleague Gerda Verburg (CDA). It is the signature from this party (to the right of the Dutch political spectrum) that means that now, in the newly elected House of Parliament, there is a large parliamentary majority for the measures Friends of the Earth proposes. The Trade Secretary Ybema will comment after a short statement by Friends of the Earth Netherlands and the members of Parliament.

What: presentation of over 14,000 signed cards to the Trade secretary Ybema in large water bottles
Where: outside the Ministry for Economic Affairs,
Bezuidenhoutweg 30, The Hague
When: Tuesday 18 June, 6 pm

Friends of the Earth Netherlands is concerned that world wide sustainable and fair water management will come under threat if countries are forced by the WTO to sell their water supplies to foreign companies. In the Bolivian city of Cochabamba for example, water became unaffordable for the poor when the water company fell into American hands. This lead to a revolt, and eventually to the company being expropriated. In the latest WTO plans, the expropriation of companies would no longer be permitted.

The decision on what the EU position will be in the WTO discussions on services (GATS : General Agreement on Trade in Services) will be taken at the end of this month by civil servants who have been mandated by politicians. Politicians can chose to renounce the liberalization of the water sector at both the the coming EU summit (21- 22 June in Seville) and the the General Council for Foreign Ministers (24 June in Brussels) . According to leaked documents (see www.gatswatch.org/requests-offers) the European Commission is a strong advocate of liberalization of the water sector. Friends of the Earth Netherlands calls on the Dutch government to prevent this.


http://www.gatswatch.org/requests-offers
http://www.milieudefensie.nl