The Lithuanian Industry Trade Union Federation, together with environmental organisations, has addressed the country’s leaders and responsible institutions, calling for the preservation of the current European Union Water Framework Directive and urging them not to support initiatives aimed at weakening it.
The letter was sent to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, Inga Ruginienė, the Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Juozas Olekas, and the Minister of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, Kastytis Žuromskas.
The organisations emphasise that a possible revision of the Water Framework Directive could open the door to weakening the existing legal framework for water protection.
According to them, access to water supply today is closely linked to climate change management, public health, energy and food security, as well as the human right to water and sanitation.
“Priority should be given not to weakening existing legislation, but to its effective implementation, enforcement, and long-term investments in public infrastructure and high-quality public services,” the appeal states.
The letter also highlights that the resilience of the water sector is directly dependent on the situation of workers. According to the organisations, technological solutions alone are not sufficient – it is necessary to ensure quality jobs, safe working conditions, attract and retain workers, and strengthen social dialogue.
Trade unions and environmental organisations call for the development of collective bargaining, the promotion of a culture of collective agreements, and the inclusion of workers’ representatives in decision-making processes.
The appeal also stresses that water must remain a public good, and critical water infrastructure cannot be left solely to market mechanisms or privatization logic.
“Public investment, socially responsible public procurement, workers’ rights, and a strong public sector are essential conditions for ensuring the long-term resilience of water systems in Europe,” the organisations note.
The authors of the letter call on Lithuanian institutions to support stable, clear, and predictable water protection regulation and to ensure that water policy is based on the principles of public interest, social justice, and environmental protection.