Big letdown for the Commission and the Parliament: the Austrian Presidency of the Council will no longer try to reach a political agreement on the confidentiality of electronic communications. It decided to stick to its original strategy and limit itself to a progress agreement. This information was confirmed to us by a diplomat close to the Austrian Presidency of the Council on 12 November.
“The Council Ministers will exchange views and [adopt] a substantial progress report from the Presidency. We considered it important for the ministers to express themselves at this level", explained this diplomatic source, referring to the meeting of ministers regarding telecommunications on 4 December. "There will be no discussion of permanent representatives, except on 28 November, when we will define the Council's agenda", she concluded.
However, the Presidency had announced the opposite to Member State experts on 8 November, under pressure from the European Parliament, which had been waiting to enter into negotiations for a year, from the European Commission who are anxious to see its project succeed, and from one third of the Member States (see EUROPE 12133).
Given the proximity of the European elections, this decision will force the European Parliament to reposition itself on the text without any certainty that more action will be taken in the Council. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)