TFL Vsebine / Revija Javna uprava

V članku je obravnavana ureditev oskrbe z vodo, pri čemer je glavni poudarek na ureditvi v pravu Evropske unije, ki ne vključuje sektorske zakonodaje za to področje, poleg tega države članice same določajo lastninskopravno ureditev. Analizirane so glavne karakteristike vodnega sektorja, to so lokalna narava oskrbe s pitno vodo, položaj naravnega monopola, neelastično povpraševanje in močan javni interes, ki je prisoten zaradi esencialnega pomena vode. Ugotovljeno je, da obstajajo razlike med vodnim in drugimi infrastrukturnimi sektorji, vendar pa je, tudi v primeru, da glede sektorske liberalizacije vodni ne sledi drugim, mogoče v obravnavanem sektorju uvesti več konkurence in več transparentnosti. V članku je s sodno prakso podkrepljena analiza uporabe konkurenčnega prava Evropske unije za primer opredelitve dejavnosti kot storitve splošnega gospodarskega interesa. Z evropsko državljansko pobudo »Right2water« je bil ob predlogu Direktive 2014/23/EU o podeljevanju koncesijskih pogodb izražen močan odpor splošne javnosti do zasebnih izvajalcev, izrecen zapis pravice do pitne vode v nacionalni ustavi pa je zaenkrat moč najti le v peščici držav po svetu. Predstavljeni so tudi izsledki vodilnih študij participacije zasebnega kapitala v zadevnem sektorju, ki kažejo na neobstoj enoznačnega odgovora o optimalnem modelu organiziranja oskrbe s pitno vodo.

The article discusses the regulation of water supply focusing on the law of the European Union, which does not include sector-specific legislation regarding this area, in addition, one of the Member States’ competences is the determination of the system of property ownership. Analysed are the main characteristics of the water sector, such as the local nature of drinking water supply, natural monopoly, inelastic demand and strong public interest due to the vital importance of water. The differences between the water sector and other infrastructure sectors are noted, however, even if the water sector does not follow other sectors regarding the liberalization, there is room to improve competition and transparency. The article contains the analysis of the European Union competition law application in the case of defining the water supply services as services of general economic interest, which is supported by case law. At the proposal of the Directive 2014/23/EU on the award of concession contracts, the European citizens’ initiative »Right2water« expressed strong dissenting opinion of general public against private operators. However, the right to drinking water may only be found in a few states’ constitutions around the world. The author presents the findings of leading studies on the participation of the private capital in the sector, pointing out the absence of an optimal universal organizational model for drinking water supply.

Regulation of Water Supply