Rostock – For the 8th time, business, scientific and political representatives have gathered at the REMONDIS EURAWASSER forum, which took place in Rostock-Warnemünde this year. The occasion was the 20th anniversary of the public-private water supply partnership between EURAWASSER, a member of the REMONDIS group, and Warnow-Wasser- und Abwasserverband (WWAV). Rostock's Mayor, Roland Methling, described the cooperation as one of the most successful models of a public-private partnership (PPP) in the Federal Republic of Germany. He emphasised: "The cooperation between the Hanseatic City and EURAWASSER serves as a role model for Germany and beyond the national borders."

Approximately 200 guests accepted the invitation to the high-profile event, which was dedicated to the motto 'Understanding change. Designing the future'. At the start, honorary chairman of the RETHMANN group supervisory board, Norbert Rethmann, pointed out the responsibility the companies bear for each and every staff member. "In order to keep our best employees and to generate enthusiasm for the company among the younger generation, the framework conditions have to be just right," he said.
Federal minister of economic affairs ret. Wolfgang Clement reiterated his demand for a "2020 Agenda" for Germany and Europe and called for a European infrastructure programme. In his words, the mobilisation of private capital for this purpose is imperative.

Another aspect of the cooperation between private businesses and public authorities was explained by Prof. Jens Tränckner, Holder of the Chair for Water Resources Management at the University of Rostock. As an example, he named the reprocessing of the element vital to human and animal kind, phosphorus. Robert Ristow, Managing Director of EURAWASSER, commented that REMONDIS was the forerunner in this respect. "We intensified our efforts years ago and developed a broad range of innovative methods for phosphorous reprocessing."

In light of the climate change, Rostock's environmental senator, Holger Matthäus, called for all social actors to "put our former carefree attitude into question." After the extreme weather events of 2011, the rethinking process has already begun in the city of Rostock. A reduction in energy consumption is one part of the framework concept on the topic of climate change. As one of the first businesses, EURAWASSER became a member of the 'Energy Alliance of Rostock', which was founded in 2011 and gives the members a platform for the joint implementation of projects for energy turnaround policy.

Background information

The 8th REMONDIS EURAWASSER-Forum for innovation, technology and sustainable development took place on 4 and 5 June 2013 and focused on the ecological and technical challenges of our time. Andreas Bankamp, Managing Director of the RMONDIS Aqua group, opened the event.

Lithuania was the international focus this time, which will hold the European Council Presidency in the second half of 2013. The Baltic state experienced a strong economic slump in 2009. In the meantime it has made some progress with putting its public finances in order and independently securing currency stability, reported the Lithuanian Consulate Deividas Matulionis. The increase in export quotas in 2010 and 2011 helped re-establish a competitive capacity.

Prof. Mojib Latif from the University of Kiel examined the issue of 'climate change - fact or fiction'. He stressed that the increase in temperature, sea level and CO2 content in the atmosphere is clearly verifiable. He stated that climate change is not just a suspicion any more, an that politicians must deal with this reality. The scientific journalist Dr. Joachim Bublath then pointed out that the upcoming climate development is currently very difficult to predict.

EURAWASSER Aufbereitungs- und Entsorgungs GmbH is an affiliate of the REMONDIS Aqua GmbH & Co. KG. With its subsidiaries and associates, it guarantees sewage disposal for more than 800,000 people across Germany since 1991. EURAWASSER has a staff of approximately 900 employees and is active at its business locations in the greater Rostock-Güstrow area, Schwerin, Goslar, Cottbus and in the regions Saale-Unstrut, Middle Rhine and Rheingau.

The REMONDIS Aqua group are reliable and efficient water management specialists. As a partner to local authorities, associations and the industry, the company is active throughout all of Germany and internationally. The international activities focus on the markets in Turkey, Russia, India, Poland, Spain and further European countries.

REMONDIS is one of the world's largest private service providers for water and cycle management and offers its services to about 30 million people. With their branches and shareholdings in various companies, REMONDIS is present in 24 European countries as well as in China, India, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand and further countries on four continents. Founded in 1934, the family enterprise, with around 30,000 employees, generated annual revenue of 6.8 billion Euros in 2012. REMONDIS strategy is based on partnership initiatives, new ideas and future-oriented perspectives, in order to make a significant contribution to future raw materials and water management.

Further information is available from:

REMONDIS SE & Co. KG
Michael Schneider
Marketing & Corporate Communication
Brunnenstraße 138
44536 Lünen
T +49 2306 106-515
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