An investigation has been launched into waste management company Superdreckskëscht and its monopoly position in the sector, following an article in Reporter that claimed that Minister for the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development Carole Dieschbourg recently signed an eleven-year contract with the company, which amounts to €97 million - money allegedly taken from the national environment fund.
Dieschbourg had responded to a parliamentary enquiry from CSV MPs Paul Galles and Léon Gloden, but the opposition remained disappointed with the minister's response. Furthermore, Sven Clement (Pirate Party) and Fred Keup (ADR) lamented a lack of information put to their disposal to prepare for the Chamber's Environment Commission.
"The commission meeting started at 3.30pm. 23 minutes earlier we had been sent a number of documents, including a 38-page contract. There is no time left to look into it", said Keup.
The questions that arose from the Reporter article were whether the private company Oeko-Service, which is behind the waste management company, has a monopoly position in the Luxembourg market, and whether there is a case of unfair competition. The response by the Minister for the Environment Carole Dieschbourg and the Minister for the Economy Franz Fayot did not satisfy Clement: "If one believes the two ministers and their officials, then of course there is no monopoly, because there has been a European tender. Only one company had registered."
Important information was not available, the party leader states. "The prices that the state pays Oeko-Service remain a big secret."
Despite Dieschbourg stating that there were no inconsistencies or unlawful deals, an audit will be underway. MP Paul Galles (CSV) says that "We are not yet satisfied with what we have just heard...Our basic view is that we say: let's look forward, let's clean up and make sure the system is transparent. We absolutely need that system."
Clement raises other points: "How is the governance? Who is responsible for what and who makes the decision? Who puts the money in the bag? Here I have the feeling that people have created a machine for printing money, and that ministers have been watching all along"
The waste service was launched by the state in the mid 80s, has been legally established since 2005. The company Oeko-Service, which belongs to the Walter brothers, was awarded a contract in 2018 for another 10 years, totalling €97 million.
