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EU Council opens the way for the telecom package



The European Parliament and the Council have finally agreed on a compromise regarding the contradictory question of internet users’ rights in the new EU telecom regulation. Following Parliament’s vote introducing a prior juridical decision for any restriction of internet use, a public debate on internet users’ right and fundamental freedoms had put pressure on the EU institutions to find a solution. Last Thursday, after long negotiations, the conciliation committee has unanimously agreed to a new wording of the famous amendment 138, guaranteeing legal security for internet users and preserving citizens’ rights. The new wording improves the old text and provides that measures taken by the Member States concerning end-users’ access to the internet have to respect the fundamental rights as guaranteed by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights. Restrictions regarding the use of the internet may only be imposed based on the principles of appropriateness, proportionality and necessity within a democratic society. Besides this clear statement on the preservation of fundamental freedoms and human rights, the compromise improves the legal security of internet users as measures have to respect the principle of presumption of innocence and the right of privacy, guaranteeing users a prior fair and impartial procedure and the right to an effective judicial review.



UNI europa welcomes the compromise that has cleared the way for the final adoption of the telecom package by the European Parliament in its November plenary session. End of October, UNI europa had already called upon MEPs to quickly resolve the remaining problems of the telecom regulation in order to enable a quick adoption of the important package.



For more information on the telecom package, you can visit the website of the European Commission:

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/491&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en