Diakonia Press Statement
>>
>> Stockholm, 20 January 2009
>>
>> Today the Stockholm community council in Sweden announced that the French
>> company Veolia who has been the current operator at the Subway’s in
>> Stockholm County for 10 years lost the contract to the MTR-cooperation.
>>
>> The contracts for the coming 8 years is worth 3,5 Billion EURO and has
>> been the biggest ongoing public contract procurement process in Europe.
>>
>> Although the board for county’s public transportation ensured the
>> decision was based on commercial factors the debate about Veolias
>> involvement in a controversial tramway project in Jerusalem (Jerusalem
>> light railway) has been intense in Swedish media.
>>
>> The tramway connecting the Israeli west Jerusalem with illegal Israeli
>> settlements on occupied Palestinian territory has triggered discussions
>> about Veolia’s ethical policy. Public protests against Veolia has brought
>> the attention to the dilemma of operating public services when you at he
>> same time are involved in politically controversial activities.
>>
>> As late as the day before the decision the community council received
>> lists with thousands of signatories from people demanding the county
>> council to choose an operator who should not be associated with
>> violations of international humanitarian law.
>>
>> – This is clearly another sign of the importance for commercial actors
Diakonia Press Statement
>>
>> Stockholm, 20 January 2009
>>
>> Today the Stockholm community council in Sweden announced that the French
>> company Veolia who has been the current operator at the Subway’s in
>> Stockholm County for 10 years lost the contract to the MTR-cooperation.
>>
>> The contracts for the coming 8 years is worth 3,5 Billion EURO and has
>> been the biggest ongoing public contract procurement process in Europe.
>>
>> Although the board for county’s public transportation ensured the
>> decision was based on commercial factors the debate about Veolias
>> involvement in a controversial tramway project in Jerusalem (Jerusalem
>> light railway) has been intense in Swedish media.
>>
>> The tramway connecting the Israeli west Jerusalem with illegal Israeli
>> settlements on occupied Palestinian territory has triggered discussions
>> about Veolia’s ethical policy. Public protests against Veolia has brought
>> the attention to the dilemma of operating public services when you at he
>> same time are involved in politically controversial activities.
>>
>> As late as the day before the decision the community council received
>> lists with thousands of signatories from people demanding the county
>> council to choose an operator who should not be associated with
>> violations of international humanitarian law.
>>
>> – This is clearly another sign of the importance for commercial actors
>> not to have their brand associated to unethical behaviour, in the case of
>> illegal settlements on occupied palestinian territory we can already see
>> a trend of international companies who are moving out their operations
>> from settlements, says Joakim Wohlfeil, at the Swedish development
>> organization Diakonia.
>>
>> Diakonia is a Swedish Christian development organisation working together
>> with local partners for a sustainable change for the most vulnerable
>> people of the world
>>
>> Joakim Wohlfeil
>>
>> Diakonia Head Office (Sweden)
>>
>> Policy Officer, Conflict and Justice
>>
>> Mobile: + 46 (0) 705 15 61 45
>>
>>
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