Current developments at EU level indicate that water supply could soon no longer be subject to municipal self-administration, but instead to European competition rules and to a mandatory tendering procedure. In Germany, steps on reforming the water sector are currently considered in the framework of the national modernisation strategy. Against this background, the Green Party (Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen) in the German Parliament commissioned Ecologic to prepare an expert opinion on sustainable water management in Germany.

The expert opinion outlines the current status of the modernisation efforts within the German water sector against the background of sustainable water management principles. Furthermore, it evaluates the current discussion on plans of the European Commission towards increasing competition in the field of "services of general economic interest" related to water service issues. It additionally highlights the risks and potentials of these developments for the German water sector.