After the European Parliament and Council of Telecoms Ministers reached a negotiation on the rights of Internet users, Europe is set to get a major fix of its telecommunications regulation.
Following an accord reached on Wednesday night, the package will now become part of national legislation in every EU country, with a time limit of May 2011.
A sticking point in the package’s advancement had been a condition regarding “three strikes” laws targeting Internet users supposed of illegitimate file-sharing of copyrighted material. But parley led to an “Internet freedom provision,” which states that any actions taken by member states to limit Internet access or use must “respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of natural persons, as guaranteed by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and general principles of Community law.”
