MEPs voted yesterday, Wednesday, 4 July.
Executive Director of the European Publishers Council (EPC) Angela Mills Wade (pictured) said: “The European Parliament has totally ignored proper judicial procedure. It has given in to pressure from anti-copyright groups despite calls from thousands of companies and workers in manufacturing and creative sectors who have called for ACTA to be signed in order that their rights as creators be protected.”
The text of ACTA, in line with current EU law, establishes common procedures for dealing with IPR infringements across countries accounting for 50% of world trade.
Angela continued: “For Europe to have a successful knowledge economy and manufacturing base, it must protect its workers, creators and the innovations of its manufacturers and industries abroad. The EPC firmly believes that the ACTA treaty sends an important message to third countries and to Europe’s workforce that our rights must be and can be protected in practice.”
The European Commission will wait for the Court’s ruling and then will approach other signatories of the Agreement and the Parliament to agree the next steps.
