Brussels, 25/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - Speaking at the Competitiveness Council, the French secretary of state for industry and consumption, Luc Chatel, gave his reaction to reports about the previous day's adoption of the Telecoms Package by the European Parliament and stressed: “European countries had shown they wanted to harmonise their industry and help consumers benefit from the significant progress in their interest”. Nevertheless, Mr Chatel criticised the adoption of an amendment explaining that the question of copyright could only be linked to the basis of a decision by the legal authorities and not to the restrictions of the “fundamental rights and freedoms” of net users. In a press release, the French minister of culture and communication, Christine Albanel, expressed the same reservations and added that it was “highly unlikely” that this amendment would go through in a first reading. The French presidency is hoping for a compromise during the Telecoms Council on 27 November. Mr Chatel, who will chair the debates, indicated that he would work in close collaboration with Commissioner Reding to obtain this compromise. (I.L./transl.rh)