Strasbourg, 07/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - After adopting by 259 votes to 210 and 6 abstentions, with an amendment banning the despatch of advertising messages mainly by fax and electronic mail without prior authorisation from the receivers, the European Parliament decided on Thursday, during its final vote, to refer back to Committee the report by Marco Cappato (TDI) on the proposal of directive on protection of privacy in electronic communications (see EUROPE of 30 August, p.7). Despite a majority in favour of banning advertising messages, the final result of the vote on the amendments, although adopted individually, proved unacceptable for most MEPs. It is now up to Mr Cappato to find a compromise on which a consensus may be reached. Whatever, the vote will have seen the victory of the opt-in position consisting of only receiving the mail requested (and defended by the Socialist and Greens.EFA Groups) on the opt-out position (defended by the right wing groups), whereby citizens must clearly state their refusal to be invaded by unsolicited faxes and e-mails.