08/05/2009

The European Parliament has again amended the telecoms regulatory reform package, in an attempt to underline the right of consumers to freely access the Internet.

While the MEPs agreed with the bulk of the legislation in a vote on May 6, they abandoned the political compromise reached with the Council of Ministers over internet access rights and reverted to their previous stance on the issue.

Several EU Member States had been pushing for the right to allow ISPs to restrict customers' access to the Internet if they were found to be repeatedly infringing copyright through online file exchanges. However, the MEPs reinstated by 407 votes in favour with 57 votes against and 171 abstentions a first-reading amendment saying that "no restriction may be imposed on the fundamental rights and freedoms of end users, without a prior ruling by the judicial authorities (...) save when public security is threatened".

As the Council has the final say on the legislation, further negotiations will likely be needed as well as another vote in parliament later this year, after the MEP elections in June. EU Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding urged the Council of Ministers to consider the political consequences of rejecting the legislation due to the new amendment, especially given the important role of the telecoms sector in the economic recovery.

The Council of Telecoms Ministers will meet to discuss the legislation on June 12.