Three
committees of the European Parliament today (31 May) rejected a
controversial multilateral agreement to combat counterfeiting.
The
Parliament’s industry committee recommended the rejection of the
anti-counterfeiting trade agreement (ACTA) by 31 votes to 25. Two MEPs
abstained. The legal affairs committee rejected a pro-ACTA report with
12 to 10 votes. Again, two members abstained. The civil-liberties
committee voted with 36 to one, with 21 abstentions, against ACTA.
The three committees had been asked for their opinion by the
international trade committee, which is leading discussions about ACTA.
The trade committee is expected to give its recommendation on 21 June.
A plenary vote is tentatively scheduled for 3 July.