Brussels, 09/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - The compromise on data retention reached by the ministers meeting for the JHA Council of 1 and 2 December (EUROPE 9081) "guarantees a reasonable balance between the protection of fundamental rights and the need to fight terrorism", said the French Socialist delegation of the European Parliament on Thursday. In view of French MEP Martine Roure (PES), this compromise responds to the "urgent need to put in place a stricter policy, in order to ensure better protection for citizens' privacy. This is not currently the case". The French Socialists also welcome the fact that in future, "all dossiers in this field will be dealt with in co-decision with the Parliament". These declarations by the French Socialists come in the wake of the pact between the PES and EPP-ED Groups of the Parliament and of the Council with a view to reaching an agreement at first reading at the plenary session 13 December in Strasbourg, and which met with a strong disapproval of rapporteur Alexander Nuno Alvaro (ALDE, Germany) and the Greens/EFA group (EUROPE 9084). As for the Internet telecommunication sector, he says that he is still "extremely concerned by the compromise reached by the Council".