13/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - This week, the European Parliament gave third reading approval to the “Rome II” draft regulation, on the law applicable to non-contractual obligations. After four years of tense negotiations, the European Parliament and the Council, meeting in the Conciliation Committee, finally reached a compromise agreement in mid-May (see EUROPE 9428). The two institutions agreed to introduce rules relating to road accidents and environmental damage, while getting rid of the controversial arrangements on defamation by the media. At the end of June, the Council of the EU also adopted the proposal on the same text. The regulation should be applied by member states' courts from the start of 2009. (bc)