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ACTA Rejected By European Parliament
Grumbleduke writes "Today the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly to reject the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. Despite attempts by the EPP Group to delay the vote until after the Courts have ruled on its legality, the Parliament voted against the Treaty by 478 to 39; apparently the biggest ever defeat the Commission has suffered. However, despite this apparent victory for the Internet, transparency and democracy, the Commission indicated that it will press ahead with the court reference, and if the Court doesn't reject ACTA as well, will consider bringing it back before the Parliament."
But we're only safe until the next bit of daft legislation.
Won't work. If there's one thing that the EU Parliament have shown is that when people try and bypass their authority they're willing to turn up in huge numbers to vote it down on principle.
Higgs' Boson discovered by LHC before Tevatron, and ACTA (already implemented in the USA) finally rejected by the European Parliament. Europe wins both in science and democracy. Very sad july 4th for the USA.
Dear hollywood cocaineaholics/drunk singers/corrupt american politicians/etc..., f*uck you!
And the mass popular movement, they cannot stand how the EU Commission treats citizens and members of parliament anymore. Europe is once again reborn as a democracy, of the people, for the people.
And he will keep rephrasing the question until you say Yes by accident.
-- Cheers!
This time it's not political critters developing a shred of common sense, it's political critters channeling civil society's common sense and massive protests. For once, they have worked.
The grass is always greener on the other side of the light cone.
No, it cannot be bypassed. What he can do is have it subject to judicial review and try to resubmit the ratification proposal. However, I would assume that parliament will not take kindly to this. Maybe they should move for a no confidence vote on Karel.
"Civis Europaeus sum!"
The vote was near anonymous. More than 90% against. That's not just populism, the pirate parties don't make any serious inroads.
Greece is a bad example: that country is in shatters, and people will vote for whoever is not part of the old leadership. The austerity there hurts too, of course, many people don't like it of course, but it seems the overall opinion of the Greek people is that their country should stay in the Eurozone. That's at least what they're currently heading for.
They'll just extradite everyone who violates it to the U.S. for prosecution.
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
Er, well, 78% against, 6% for, 24% abstentions. The EC will see that as a 78% v. 32% defeat, ie, only a 46% defeat. Because politicians seem to really believe you can do that sort of thing with statistics.
Quidnam Latine loqui modo coepi?
In most countries, this "mandate" requirements was never issued. The pact was signed secretly, behind the curtain, and without the knowledge of the public, and in some cases (i know of a few countries) even without the consent of the parliament.
Nevertheless, the real issue is the unconvinient publicity of the ACTA, which could make all these "hidden" deals very hard to strike. Which is actually a real democracy at work.