Leaked EU memorandum reveals renewed EU attempt at imposing water privatisation on Greece
The requirement to sell off €50 billion in public assets
is one of the most controversial aspects of the ‘agreement’ that
Eurozone countries and the Troika forced on the Greek government during
mid-July’s “night of shame”.
Details of exactly what Greece is
required to privatise have now emerged with the leaking of the
"Memorandum of Understanding for a three-year ESM programme” prepared by
the Troika’s International Monetary Fund, European Commission and
European Central Bank. [1] The leaked document lists 23 state assets, ranging from airports to service utilities, and presents precise steps and timelines for privatisation.
It
comes as a shock that this list includes two large public water
companies: Athens Water Supply & Sewerage S.A (EYDAP) and
Thessaloniki Water Supply & Sewerage S.A. (EYATH), which provide
drinking water for the country's two biggest cities. The Troika had
insisted on water privatisation in an earlier memorandum, but strong
public opposition had blocked this proposal.
