12/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - A further step towards rejection of ACTA. European Parliament rapporteur on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) David Martin (S&D, UK) announced on Thursday 12 April that he would recommend that Parliament reject this highly controversial trade agreement. He made the announcement at a conference which “confirmed my suspicion that ACTA raises more fears than hopes”. S&D Group leader Hannes Swoboda said that “next week, at our upcoming group meeting, I will recommend to all Socialists and Democrats to reject ACTA”. Martin will put forward his proposal on 25 April, the parliamentary international trade committee will hold its vote before the end of May and the Parliament will vote on the report in plenary session before summer. The Greens/EFA Group also welcomed the rapporteur's announced recommendation. (LC/transl.rt)