SPAIN: NOVEMBER 3 AND 4 MARKED AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE MOVEMENT FOR PUBLIC WATER

The first CITIES FOR PUBLIC WATER MEETING took place on 3rd and 4th November, 2016 in Madrid, convened by La Red Agua Pública/the Public Water network in collaboration with the Municipal Council of Madrid. Threehundred people (mayors, councillors, operators, social activists, professionals, people from the academic world and citizens interested in water services) met to exchange experiences and initiatives for the recovery of the public management of water, to analyse the potential and challenges of the re-municipalisation process, the implementation of new models of democratic and participatory management, the effective application of the human right to water and the implementation of shared collaboration strategies between social organisations and municipal councils. The main result of the event was a proposal to constitute a NETWORK OF CITIES FOR PUBLIC WATER as a collaboration instrument involving all actors interested in ensuring the public and democratic management of water and sanitation services. This network was supported by the mayors who participated in the round table to close the event.