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EU Software Patent Directive Getting Hot

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the so-take-off-all-your-clothes dept.

zoobab writes "Next wednesday, on the 6th July, the European Parliament will have the last chance to prevent US-style software patents in the EU. If the Parliament fails to reach 367 votes for the key amendments, then the Council directive will legalize business methods and software patents. Yesterday, many political groups have tabled amendments to patch the Council text. A demonstration online is running with currently 2400 websites shutting down until the vote. A physical demonstration is also planned in Strasbourg on next tuesday the 5th of July."

1 of 232 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Confused about EU system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Indeed it is undemocratic and has its roots in the history of the EU. In order to avoid giving the EU the appearance of a federation, the the governments (i.e. the executive branch) of the memberstates have the most say in all matters.

    Short summary: There are 3 bodies in the EU lawmaking process: The Commission, the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.
    The EP members are directly elected by the population of the EU.
    The Council of Ministers is just that: the ministers of the member states.
    The Commission gets proposed by the Council of Ministers and confirmed by the Parliament (note the EP only has a veto right here). It is the de-facto executive branch of the EU and the ONLY body that can start a legislative process.
    Depending on the kind of legislation, the EP has some say in the matter.
    The Council of Ministers ALWAYS has a say and usually has the stronger position too (compared to the EP).

    So, in short, the LEGISLATION of the EU is mostly done by the EXECUTIVE of the member states (division of power anyone?).

    This has, in literature about this topic, been shamefully called the ``democratic deficit'' of the EU.
    It's sickening.