Sarkozy snubbed by Barroso in the three strikes approach

(Dieser Artikel ist auch in deutscher Sprache verfügbar)

Barroso, President of the European Commission has refused French President
Sarkozy’s request to withdraw Amendment 138 included in the Telecoms Package
recently voted by the European Parliament.

Amendment 138 which basically reinstates the legal issue of the freedom to
communicate of Internet users, reaffirming that only threats to public
security can justify the restriction to the free circulation of information
on the Internet without a court decision, was voted with a large majority by
the MEPs, fact which largely displeased EU French presidency who has
continuously pushed and pressed for the application of the three strike
approach introduced by its “Création et Internet” draft bill.

Sarkozy sent a letter to Barroso asking for the withdrawal of the amendment
which would force France to give up its draft law. If the Commission does
not reject the amendment, France would be in the position to obtain the
refusal of the entire Telecoms Package which would practically be
impossible. Therefore, Sarkozy is trying to obtain the withdrawal of the
amendment by the Council of Ministers during the meeting scheduled for 27
November, before the second reading of the European Parliament that will
take place during the first term of 2009. “Sarkozy tries to force his way
through in Council, and his close staff does not hide that they want to
subsequently outstrip the European Parliament by having the French bill
adopted in emergency procedure before the second reading on the Telecoms
Package” says La Quadrature du Net.

But Mr. Barroso, president of the EC sent a non-receipt denial by reminding
the French President that the amendment was voted with 573 pro votes against
74 and stating that the EC will “respect this democratic decision of the
European Parliament” adding that the “amendment is a significant reminder of
the legal principles that are inherent keys to the legal order of the
European Union, especially as regards the citizens’ fundamental rights”.

The position was stranghtned by the European Commission spokesman for
information society issues, Martin Selmayr that said: “The European
Commission respects this democratic decision of the European Parliament. In
our opinion this amendment is an important re-affirmation of the basic
principles of the rule of law in the EU, in particular the fundamental
rights of its citizens.”

The European Commission has therefore accepted the amendment thus forcing
France to accept the report. The Commission has invited France to discuss
the issue at the Council of Ministers meeting where an agreement has to be
reached between the Council and the EP in order to pass the Telecoms
Package. As the Commission has no legislative power it can only act as
negotiator between the two bodies. If France goes on with its plans to
present its Creation et Internet draft law on 18 November, it might be under
violation of a European provision in progress of being adopted.

“The French President seems to have too soon forgotten how the European
Union institutions work by pretending to ignore the co-decision principle”
stated MEP Guy Bono, co-author of the amendment.

On the other hand, the British Government which in July seemed ready to
pursue a gradual response approach for p2p users now denies any such
attempt. The British Prime Minister stated in a response to a petition
asking him not to force ISPs to spy on their users for the purpose of
monitoring copyrighted content. “Unfortunately, much of the media reports
around this issue have been incorrect. There are no proposals to make ISPs
liable for the content that travels across their networks. Nor are there
proposals for ISPs to monitor customer activity for illegal downloading, or
to enforce a ‘3 strikes’ policy.”

Letter from Sarkozy to Barrosso (only in French)
http://www.ecrans.fr/IMG/pdf/Lettre_Barroso.pdf

President Sarkozy requires the withdrawal of Amendment 138 (only in
French, 4.10.2008)

À lire sur Numerama : Président de l’UE, Sarkozy exige le retrait de l’amendement 138

Gradual response: Barroso said no to Nicolas Sarkozy (only in French,
6.10.2008)
http://www.numerama.com/magazine/10791-URGENT-Riposte-Graduee-Barroso-dit-non-a-Nicolas-Sarkozy.html

UK Prime Minister Denies Three Strikes Proposal… After Europe Tossed It
(5.10.2008)
http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9791/UK+Prime+Minister+Denies+Three+Strikes+Proposal…+After+Europe+Tossed+It/

Graduated response: Europe must resist Sarkozy’s authoritarianism
(6.10.2008)
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/graduated-reponse-europe-must-resist-sarkozys-authoritarianism

Graduated Response : The Lesson (7.10.2008)
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/graduated-response-lesson

EDRIgram: French law on ‘graduate response’ opposed by ISOC Europe
(10.09.2008)
http://www.edri.org/edrigram/number6.17/3strikes-opposed-isoc-europe