Speaking in the European Parliament in advance of tomorrow's vote on the Telecoms Package, Swedish GUE/NGL MEP Eva-Britt Svensson said it was "a dossier that affects freedom of expression and civil rights" and gave three reasons to vote against:

 

1. The compromise does not offer sufficient protections for citizens from authorities and internet operators. The text means that the end users' rights cannot be limited by member states - but it opens the door for private companies to introduce restrictions.

 

 2. Svensson's proposals for amendments on internet rights - the Citizens Rights Amendments - were not incorporated in this text which, among other things, could lead to the internet becoming like cable television, requiring special subscriptions in order to access the whole internet.

 

 3. The telecoms package comes under the rules of the internal market and so the European Court of Justice will decide on conflicts of interest. Freedom of speech should not be decided by the ECJ.

 

 "Thanks to public pressure, important protections for internet users were won - but they are insufficient for the left. You cannot compromise on citizens' rights" said Svensson.

 

The vote will take place tomorrow afternoon 24-11-09.

 

Gianfranco Battistini + 32 475 64 66 28
Sonja Giese + 32 486 94 50 21
David Lundy + 32 485 50 58 12