’End of the Road’ for ACTA in Europe
Source: theepochtimes.com
The controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, or ACTA, which was broadly rejected by the European Parliament earlier this year, had a final nail driven into its coffin: the European Commission has reportedly dropped its plans to get it confirmed by the European Court of Justice.
The European Commission, which is Europe’s executive body, said that there is “no realistic chance” that the trade agreement would be adopted in Europe, reported The Register.
In July, European parliamentarians rejected the treaty following Europe-wide demonstrations. There were concerns that the bill would impose harsher new restrictions that target all internet users, not just people who engage in counterfeiting and piracy.
According to the website ZDNet, trade commissioner Karel De Gucht said that he would consider reintroducing ACTA to the European Court of Justice, which is Europe’s highest court. But with the European Commission’s decision, that will likely not take place.
“I welcome this news from the Commission today,” Socialists & Democrats European parliament member David Martin said in a statement.
“The EU cannot be party to an agreement without European Parliament ratification. MEPs overwhelmingly rejected ACTA in July and I am pleased that the Commission has acknowledged this is the end of the road for ACTA in the EU thanks to the Parliament,” he said.
President of the Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament said in a statement that “It is about time that the Commission realized that ACTA was wrong.”
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Read the full article at: theepochtimes.com
