In response to the news spread regarding the national government’s initiatives relating to the regional law “Provisions for the unitary and efficient management of the functions relating to the Integrated Water Service”, the president of the Puglia regional council and the vice-president and councilor for water resources wish to provide the following statement:
The Puglia Region is committed to ensuring that water remains public property, as confirmed by the Italians’ decision in the referendum. The regional law approved on March 15 by the Apulian Regional Council aims to protect the management of public water, entrusting it to all the Municipalities of Puglia, to give concrete implementation to the will of over 26 million Italians expressed in the 2011 popular referendum in favor of water as a public good. This law also aims to enhance Acquedotto Pugliese, an important industrial reality of European dimension, today entirely owned by the Puglia Region.
The law “Provisions for the unitary and efficient management of the functions relating to the Integrated Water Service”, approved with a large majority, establishes the conditions so that the Puglia Water Authority can choose the best solution in the exclusive interest of the citizens of Puglia. Among the possible options, there is also that of entrusting the service to an in-house company owned by local authorities, thus guaranteeing the public nature of the management of water services.
As regards the technical issues raised by the Ministries of European and Southern Affairs and Justice, the regional offices are working to provide useful clarifications for a constructive discussion with the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
We are open and available to a political dialogue with the Government, hoping that it will take place with a collaborative spirit in accordance with the Constitution and in compliance with the democratic decision that emerged from a complex process, aimed at strengthening the public nature of water through equally public management.
