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Reject ACTA, European Parliament Trade Committee Recommends

Posted by timothy on from the we-are-not-amused dept.

Qedward writes "The European Parliament's trade committee, INTA, voted on Thursday not to postpone a crucial parliamentary vote on the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. The committee also decided, by 19 votes to 12, to recommend to the Parliament that the trade deal be rejected. INTA is the lead committee examining the international agreement, and its recommendation will carry weight with the rest of the Parliament. The Parliamentary plenary vote on the treaty is now scheduled for July 3."

24 comments

  1. this depends on honesty by poetmatt · · Score: 2

    If they vote in secret, it won't make much of a difference what they are willing to state publicly - depending on if this is more than a rumor or not:
    http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120616/02302019360/acta-not-dead-yet-supporters-make-final-push-eu-approval-may-seek-secret-ballot.shtml

    1. Re:this depends on honesty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      It was the European Commission who urged the parliament to vote in secret. The European Commission is pushing ACTA, and the parliament is standing up against them. In the press conference after the vote, MEP Amelia Andersdotter of the pirate party actually slammed the commission for trying to interfere with the democratic process at the European Parliament.

      This is a great day for European democracy.

    2. Re:this depends on honesty by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      If they do vote in private and approve ACTA, despite the Trade Committee's recommendation, I will be writing to my MEP questioning why I should keep him in his seat come the next election, and not spend my time and energy seeing that he is ousted at the first opportunity.

      Trust is earned. If I can't trust my representatives, then I need new ones.

      --
      Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
    3. Re:this depends on honesty by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

      Trust is earned. If I can't trust my representatives, then I need new ones.

      My friend, you're going to need lots of new ones.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    4. Re:this depends on honesty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      It was the European Commission who urged the parliament to vote in secret.

      Both the parent and the grand parent are wrong.

      First of all, the request for a secret vote was about the vote that took place today, in the INTA (trade) Committee. It's not about the plenary vote, which cannot be secret.

      Secondly, the initiative to make the vote secret came from a number of pro-ACTA members of the European Parliament, not from the Commission.

    5. Re:this depends on honesty by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 2

      Why does such a thing as a secret ballot even exist in what is supposed to be a democracy? Democratic controls in Europe are tenuous at best, but at least we can see how the guys we voted into office are voting. Except when they don't feel like being held accountable, apparently (only 1/5th of MEPs need to agree to voting in secret)

      I'm a pro-Europe constituent, but it's crap like this that casts serious doubts on the way we've implemented "Europe".

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    6. Re:this depends on honesty by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 1

      My friend, you're going to need lots of new ones.

      If getting Rage Against the Machine to 2010's Christmas No. 1 has taught us anything, it's that all that is required to make changes is organised protest. Hundreds of thousands of people were willing to spend £0.99 buying that track on iTunes, buying the album in stores etc. just to ensure that generic Britain's Got Idol Pop Factor artists wouldn't, all because one guy started a Facebook group.

      "£1 to keep ACTA out of Europe" with the donation proceeds going to coffers of parties or representatives who opposed ACTA, or to cover the fees of professional speakers on the subject, media coverage, across many countries could see real change happen.

      --
      Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
    7. Re:this depends on honesty by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 1

      well, all I can say is: don't count your huehner before it hatches.

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
    8. Re:this depends on honesty by digitig · · Score: 2

      If getting Rage Against the Machine to 2010's Christmas No. 1 has taught us anything, it's that all that is required to make changes is organised protest. Hundreds of thousands of people were willing to spend £0.99 buying that track on iTunes, buying the album in stores etc. just to ensure that generic Britain's Got Idol Pop Factor artists wouldn't, all because one guy started a Facebook group.

      It taught us that we could replace one single released by Sony Music Entertainment with another single released by Sony Music Entertainment. In other words, even if we tackle the branches, it does no damage at all to the tree.

      --
      Quidnam Latine loqui modo coepi?
    9. Re:this depends on honesty by poetmatt · · Score: 1

      Ah, thank you. I tried to explain that it was "if this is true" (depending on if this is more than a rumor or not) because I didn't quite know the situation entirely.

    10. Re:this depends on honesty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A secret ballot in a deocracy means treason

  2. Yoda headlines write, hmmMM? by MrDoh! · · Score: 5, Funny

    Odd it's written the way it was. Luckily, everyone on this site will understand Yoda speak.

    --
    Waiting for an amusing sig.
    1. Re:Yoda headlines write, hmmMM? by TeRanEX · · Score: 0

      Odd it's written the way it was. Luckily, everyone on this site will understand Yoda speak.

      Best comment of the day :)

    2. Re:Yoda headlines write, hmmMM? by Thanshin · · Score: 3, Funny

      Odd it's written the way it was. Luckily, everyone on this site will understand Yoda speak.

      Best comment of the day :)

      The first part only. The second sentence uncomprehensible was.

    3. Re:Yoda headlines write, hmmMM? by Brucelet · · Score: 2

      "'Quote', speaker says" is pretty standard English syntax...

    4. Re:Yoda headlines write, hmmMM? by dkleinsc · · Score: 2

      Confused you are? Translate I will:

      Understand Yoda speak, everyone on this site will.

      --
      I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
    5. Re:Yoda headlines write, hmmMM? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Yoda headlines write, hmmMM?

      Was that an attempt at Yoda speak?

      Try: "Wrote headlines, Yoda did"

      (Verb target-noun, actor join-verb)

    6. Re:Yoda headlines write, hmmMM? by eepok · · Score: 1

      Checked for Yoda reference, leaving satisfied.

  3. obviously by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the system works???

  4. I read this as... by JustAnotherIdiot · · Score: 1

    ...12 people need to be fired.

    --
    What do I know, I'm just an idiot, right?
  5. ACTA still pushed, but contingencies already there by CanEHdian · · Score: 2

    In Europe there's new "service pack" for IPRED, things like the INDECT program, etc. etc.

    For North America and Pacific Rim, there's TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership)

    Don't think for a minute that the demise of ACTA changes anything.

    --
    When the copyright term is "forever minus a day", live every day like it's the last.
  6. Regulatory Capture by AnalogDiehard · · Score: 2

    What worries me more is regulatory capture. US corporations have been infiltrating federal agencies (FDA, EPA, ICC, FCC just to name a few) to place cronies in top positions who are sympathetic to the corporations rather than serving the public.

    Of course the R/MAAFIA would need huge $$$ resources to do this on an international basis and we should be boycotting them to prevent them from using sleazy underhanded tactics to accomplish their greedy evil plans of world domination (look how they purposely shut out public review of ACTA/SOPA).

    Not knowing the election/appointment process of the international agencies, just how vulnerable are they to regulatory capture?

    --
    Eternity: will that be smoking, or non-smoking? I Corinthians 6:9-10
  7. Hurray * by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 1

    * The weasels are already crafting Son of ACTA. They will never stop.

  8. 12 Traitors by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who are the 12 traitors? Names please.