Portuguese complaint alleges illegal aid to public water

摘要

AEPSA, the Association of Portuguese Companies for the Environment Sector, filed a formal complaint with the European Commission this month, arguing that the Portuguese state has conferred unfair advantages to public water and wastewater operators in the country over private ones. Unless the Commission dismisses the complaint, it will lead to an EU investigation. Eduardo Marques, president of AEPSA, told GWI that while he considers many factors have contributed to this situation, one article of this year's state budget law was "the straw that broke the camel's back". Article 113 of the 2021 budget law ensures that loans taken out by municipalities to end concessions early are not counted towards their debt ceiling.