Brussels, 21/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - Although the 27 MEPs from the conciliation committee tried to obtain consensus on Tuesday 20 October on rewording amendment 138 in a way that no longer upsets member states, the European Consumers Bureau (BEUC) is asking the European Parliament “to stick to their guns” and not accept a watered down version. Willemien Bax, the Deputy Director General of BEUC said that abandoning the amendment, voted by the vast majority of MEPs last May would be a “betrayal of every internaut. “Every individual has rights and cannot and must not be sacrificed in the single goal of serving the interests of the music and film industry”. BEUC is calling on the European Parliament and president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, to keep their promises on guaranteeing consumers fundamental rights on the Net. Ms Bax said that by adopting a less appropriate solution on this subject, MEPs would cause long-term problems to Europe and its citizens.
The greens group at the European Parliament intends to remain true to its principles and continue to support amendment 138 in its original version. “The basic principle according to which we are innocent until proved guilty must be maintained. If the Parliament gives in to national interests defended by the Council, it would be a betrayal of its full role as a European institution”, emphasised Philippe Lamberts, who was elected by the Greens/EFA group to the conciliation committee. Another member of the committee nominated by the Greens is Christian Engström from the Swedish Pirates party, an ardent defender of a free internet, who declared “this would be the greatest betray ever by abandoning our position on amendment 138 after the elections when we had been so robustly supported before”.
Playing its role as conciliator, the European Commission put a version on the table two weeks ago that was less abrupt than amendment 138 and is likely to satisfy the Council. This new version gets rid of the preliminary necessity of having to go to a judge before cutting off the internet. In its place, member states are invited to respect the fundamental freedoms and rights of the individual, as well as the law to provide effective legal protection and the importance of fair and impartial treatment before the law. Member states appear to favour this new text, which does not directly question their judicial order but parliament, remains split, as the position of the Greens demonstrates. The Parliamentary delegation is expected to submit a counter-proposal next week. Amendment 138 obliges member states to submit a preliminary decision to the legal authorities before cutting internet access. (I.L.)