Les programmes européens de privatisation de l’eau sont défaillants[en] 

The site was set up at the initiative of the Transnational Institute (TNI) and Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) following a string of high-profile private water company fallouts, with many ceding control of water services back to public management. It notably provides case studies of cities that have already successfully taken back control of water services from private companies and information on current campaigns tackling privatisation issues. 

The website laments the fact the EU still promotes privatised water services in Europe, despite a "wealth of evidence of private sector failings". It cites public campaigns being waged against private companies in Mexico, the United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, Mali and towns around France. 

The recently re-elected socialist mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë, has promised to take the French capital's water services out of private control in a bid to stabilise water prices. The return of the capital's water to public management is expected to be completed by the end of 2009, when the current contracts with water giants Suez-Lyonnaise des Eaux and Veolia Environnement expire. 

This follows a broader re-municipalisation trend in France, with Grenoble recognised as having one of the cheapest water prices in the country after completing its re-municipalisation of water services in 2000. France has been recognised as a water privatisation hub, with almost 80% of its water services lying in private hands. 

Water experts are also worried about the effect the EU's 'Lisbon Treaty' could have on the sector if it comes into force. They say it will promote competition to an extent where private companies will be effectively given a greater role in the water sector. The Commission is "pushing principles of competition in a way that public companies are restricted in scope and scale," according to Emanuele Lobina from the University of Greenwich. 

The World Bank nevertheless affirms that, while privatisation should not be seen as a cure-all, it should be seen as a plausible answer for poorer countries that cannot afford the initial investment. 

Water watchdogs believe the answer to the concerns raised over water privatisation in poorer countries is to establish an independent regulator and a clearly written contract, yet Olivier Hoedeman from Corporate Europe Observatory dismisses this. "It is time the EU faced up to facts and reviewed its policy on water. Privatised services might boost company profits, but they are not the most effective way of delivering water to Europe’s citizens nor to the world's poorest," he said.

Re-municipalisation of water services is set to be one of the subjects discussed at this year's Expo, held in Zaragoza, later this month.