Brussels, 17/04/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament Legal Affairs and Internal Market Committee approved, on 11 April, without amendment, the EU Council's "common position" on the electronic commerce directive, in response to the wish expressed by the latter to create a legal framework in this connection as soon as possible. Ana Palacio, Chair of the Committee, considers this common position is all the more acceptable as it incorporates most of the amendments that the Parliament set out in first reading. The amendments aim to increase consumer protection. One of them was innovative compared to the initial proposal as it reduced "spamming", that is, unsolicited advertising that invades the Internet, with an opt-out register for those who do not wish to receive junk mail.
The directive on electronic commerce aims to extend the principles of the internal market to the services of the information society. It was proposed by the European Commission in November 1998. The Parliament is expected to carry out second reading early May.