Partnerships and Collaborations

EU policymaking has a direct impact on public service providers across Austria. That is why the VÖWG is actively engaged at the European level.

As the Austrian section of SGI Europe, the key European association for public services and services of general interest, VÖWG participates in EU social dialogue and contributes to shaping European decision-making processes. Our membership in Aqua Publica Europea, the network of public water and wastewater utilities, strengthens our advocacy for water services at EU level. We are also a member of CIRIEC International, the International Centre of Research and Information on the Public, Social and Cooperative Economy, based in Liège. Being part of this network, we support knowledge transfer between research and practice and advocate for a level playing field in European social and economic policy.

Our umbrella associations at a glance:

VÖWG actively engages with national and international partner organisations to exchange practical knowledge, foster peer learning, and jointly develop strategies. By pooling common interests, we strengthen our professional positioning and shape collective responses to current challenges such as climate change adaptation and the implementation of regulatory frameworks. In times of rapid technological, environmental, and economic change, these networks offer essential orientation and promote collective action.

Our cooperation with national and international partner organisations facilitates practical knowledge sharing, peer learning, and the development of joint strategies. By aligning common interests, we strengthen our technical positioning and create shared solutions to current challenges – such as climate change adaptation and regulatory implementation. Reliable, affordable, and sustainable public services are the backbone of social cohesion and economic development. Their long-term viability requires clear frameworks, capable actors, and strategic collaboration. VÖWG actively builds targeted partnerships to connect practice and policy, promoting cross-sectoral approaches that enhance the capacity of public service providers to act in the public interest – locally, nationally, and across Europe.

Our key partners at a glance:

VÖWG maintains a strategic partnership with the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management (BMLUK) as part of the Austrian Action Plan for Sustainable Public Procurement (naBe). Together with our sister organisation VKÖ, we promote sustainable procurement and circular economy practices in energy, mobility, water, waste, housing, health, and social services. VÖWG helps its members apply ecological, social, and economic standards in their work – ensuring reliable services, long-term sustainability, and value for the public.