Internet users yesterday submitted a petition of 2.5 million signatures to the European Parliament in protest against the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.
There are still many unanswered questions about Acta’s implementation
Fearing the agreement will pose a threat to a free and open internet, users went on a drive to collect signatures and they have now been submitted to the EP’s petitions committee.
The petition coincided with a press conference by EP dossier rapporteur David Martin who yesterday confirmed Acta’s ratification process will be delayed as MEPs will have to wait for the decision of the European Court of Justice before passing judgement.
“We will also be asking for the ECJ’s opinion, but separately from the European Commission. We want the ECJ to tell us whether Acta is in line with the EU’s existing treaties, including the Charter of Fundamental Rights,” Mr Martin said.
He admitted this second request to the ECJ, which followed last week’s first referral by the Commission, will further delay the ratification process which, together with that of the signatory member states including Malta, is necessary before the international agreement enters into force.
The ECJ normally takes between 12 to 18 months to deliver a judgement on a particular case, which means the Acta agreement will not go before the plenary for voting before at least March 2013.
Originally, the ratification was expected to take place before the summer. Now, according to Mr Martin, only an interim report will be presented, most probably by September. Mr Martin said if the ECJ were to say Acta was in line with EU treaties this did not mean the EP would agree to ratify the agreement. However, a negative decision would mean “ACTA is dead”.
The EP’s rapporteur, who hails from the Socialist Group, said he was tackling the dossier with an open mind even though he was concerned about the “vagueness” of the text.
“The position that Acta could have unintended consequences is potentially a fair assessment. There are still many unanswered questions about Acta’s implementation,” he said.
The petition was submitted during a separate activity where internet users called on MEPs “to stand for a free and open internet and reject Acta’s ratification”.
It was presented to the committee chair, MEP Emilia Mazzoni, on behalf of Avaa, an organisation which uses the internet to campaign on various issues.
Ms Mazzoni said the committee will next week decide on the admissibility of this petition.
The agreement was initialled by 22 member states, including Malta, a few weeks ago. Many have put their ratification process on hold to see what the EP decides.