ACTA: We’re almost there!

Update 2012-07-04: The European Parliament voted to reject ACTA (478-to-39).

This Wednesday (4th July), the European Parliament will hold a plenary vote as to whether to give consent to the provisions within ACTA. So far, your efforts have helped to ensure that all five of the Committees (INTA, LIBE, JURI, ITRE and DEVE), whose responsibility it was to scrutinise ACTA and present their findings, have consecutively recommended its rejection. Their voices will be influential as to the way in which the European Parliament will vote on Wednesday – but so will yours!

What’s next?

The vote on Wednesday is the most important. The decision of the European Parliament will determine whether ACTA becomes binding upon the 27 EU Members States. The European Parliament can vote to oppose, approve, or refer the matter to the European Court of Justice, but it cannot alter the content of the treaty.

What are we up against?

Shortly after the INTA vote, Greens MEP Amelia Andersdotter accused EU Commissioner Karel de Gucht of placing “undue pressure” on the INTA Committee by “asking [them] to vote in a certain way”. A day prior, de Gucht told the Committee that, regardless of their recommendation, the Commission would “nonetheless continue to pursue the current procedure before the Court, as we are entitled to do”. Should the ECJ “question the conformity of the agreement with the Treaties”, he said, “we will assess at that stage how this can be addressed”.

It would seem that, despite consistent, significant, and legitimate democratic opposition to the treaty, Karel de Gucht is determined to press ahead with ACTA in any way he can. “Clarifications”, promised to be made should the ECJ decide against ACTA, are simply not possible: the treaty has now been signed, and so its contents cannot be amended unless it is first ratified.

What is wrong with ACTA?

We believe that ACTA is such an imbalanced treaty that it disproportionately and unnecessarily puts innovation and freedom of expression at risk. By attempting to deal with two hugely different issues – the counterfeiting of physical goods and digital copyright infringement – the treaty lacks the kind of surgical precision necessary to ensure that fundamental rights are not sacrificed in pursuit of its goals.

Furthermore, ACTA promotes and incentivises the private ‘policing’ of online content through, for example, its broad thresholds for its criminal measures. It exacerbates such problems by failing to provide adequate and robust safeguards for fundamental freedoms. We set out some key points in our briefing paper.

From the moment it was sprung upon Europe, following a drafting process held in secret, the passage of ACTA has been lubricated by a total disregard for democratic principles. The European Commission has effectively sought to move decisions about ACTA further away from the people and their elected representatives.

There has been a positive consequence of all this: we have seen a renewal of interest in the workings of European democratic institutions, as large numbers of people engage with difficult debates and complex institutional processes in an attempt to understand and influence the passage of ACTA through Europe. People like you have helped to make sure that the democratic process is respected and obeyed.

What do I need to do?

The decisions of the five Committees were, quite rightly, heavily influenced by the many people across Europe who contacted their MEPs to explain the problems with ACTA. The vote in the European Parliament will be no different.

For what is hopefully the last time, we’re asking you to get in touch with your MEP and explain to them how ACTA is flawed, how you want them to vote, and why.

Who is my MEP?

We’ve listed the names and contact details for each of the 73 MEPs representing constituents within the United Kingdom. Find yours below, and give them a call!

Your MEPs

East Midlands

MEP : Bill Newton Dunn Party : Lib Dem Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75712 E-mail : bill.newtondunn@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Defer to party

: Bill Newton Dunn

MEP : Derek Clark Party : UKIP Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75552 E-mail : derekroland.clark@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Derek Clark

MEP : Emma McClarkin Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75684 E-mail : emma.mcclarkin@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Emma McClarkin

MEP : Glenis Willmott Party : Labour Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75459 E-mail : glenis.willmott@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Glenis Willmott

MEP : Roger Helmer Party : UKIP Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75764 E-mail : roger.helmer@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Definitely against

: Roger Helmer

East of England

MEP : Andrew Duff Party : Lib Dem Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75998 E-mail : andrew.duff@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Definitely against

: Andrew Duff

MEP : David Campbell Bannerman Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75733 E-mail : david.campbellbannerman@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Definitely against

: David Campbell Bannerman

MEP : Geoffrey Van Orden Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75332 E-mail : geoffrey.vanorden@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known / defer to party

: Geoffrey Van Orden

MEP : Richard Howitt Party : Labour Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75477 E-mail : richard.howitt@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Defer to party

: Richard Howitt

MEP : Stuart Agnew Party : UKIP Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75404 E-mail : johnstuart.agnew@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Stuart Agnew

MEP : Vicky Ford Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75672 E-mail : vicky.ford@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Defer

: Vicky Ford

MEP : Robert Sturdy Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): 33 3 88 1 75294 E-mail : robert.sturdy@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Unknown

: Robert Sturdy

London

MEP : Charles Tannock Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75870 E-mail : charles.tannock@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Charles Tannock

MEP : Claude Moraes Party : Labour Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75553 E-mail : claude.moraes@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Claude Moraes

MEP : Gerard Batten Party : UKIP Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75920 E-mail : gerard.batten@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Gerard Batten

MEP : Dr Syed Kamall MEP Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +33 88 1 75792 E-mail : syed.kamall@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): In favour, decision maker for Conservative group

: Dr Syed Kamall MEP

MEP : Jean Lambert Party : Greens (E&W) Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75507 E-mail : jean.lambert@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Definitely against

: Jean Lambert

MEP : Marina Yannakoudakis Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75692 E-mail : marina.yannakoudakis@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Defer

: Marina Yannakoudakis

MEP : Mary Honeyball Party : Labour Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75209 E-mail : mary.honeyball@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Defer

: Mary Honeyball

MEP : Baroness Sarah Ludford Party : Lib Dem Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75104 E-mail : sarah.ludford@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Defer

: Baroness Sarah Ludford

North East England

MEP : Fiona Hall Party : Lib Dem Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75561 E-mail : fiona.hall@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Defer

: Fiona Hall

MEP : Martin Callanan Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75701 E-mail : martin.callanan@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Defer

: Martin Callanan

MEP : Stephen Hughes Party : Labour Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75408 E-mail : stephen.hughes@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Stephen Hughes

North West England

MEP : Arlene McCarthy Party : Labour Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75501 E-mail : arlene.mccarthy@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Arlene McCarthy

MEP : Brian Simpson Party : Labour Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75510 E-mail : brian.simpson@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Brian Simpson

MEP : Chris Davies Party : Lib Dem Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75353 E-mail : chris@chrisdaviesmep.org.uk Position on ACTA (if known): Defer

: Chris Davies

MEP : Jacqueline Foster Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75674 E-mail : jacqueline.foster@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Defer

: Jacqueline Foster

MEP : Nick Griffin Party : BNP Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75772 E-mail : nick.griffin@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Nick Griffin

MEP : Paul Nuttall Party : UKIP Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75740 E-mail : paul.nuttall@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Paul Nuttall

MEP : Sajjad Karim Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75640 E-mail : sajjad.karim@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Sajjad Karim

MEP : Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Atkins Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75373 E-mail : robert.atkins@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Atkins

Northern Ireland

MEP : Diane Dodds Party : DUP Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75770 E-mail : diane.dodds@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Diane Dodds

MEP : Jim Nicholson Party : UCUNF Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75933 E-mail : james.nicholson@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Defer

: Jim Nicholson

MEP : Martina Anderson Party : SF Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75222 E-mail : martina.anderson@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Martina Anderson

Scotland

MEP : Alyn Smith Party : SNP Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75187 E-mail : alyn.smith@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Likely against

: Alyn Smith

MEP : Catherine Stihler Party : Labour Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75462 E-mail : catherine.stihler@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Catherine Stihler

MEP : David Martin Party : Labour Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75539 E-mail : david.martin@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Against

: David Martin

MEP : George Lyon Party : Lib Dem Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75628 E-mail : george.lyon@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: George Lyon

MEP : Ian Hudghton Party : SNP Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75499 E-mail : ian.hudghton@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Ian Hudghton

MEP : Struan Stevenson Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75499 E-mail : struan.stevenson@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Struan Stevenson

South East England

MEP : Catherine Bearder Party : Lib Dem Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +33 3 88 1 75710 E-mail : catherine.bearder@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Catherine Bearder

MEP : Daniel Hannan Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75137 E-mail : daniel.hannan@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Unsure

: Daniel Hannan

MEP : James Elles Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75951 E-mail : james.elles@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Defer

: James Elles

MEP : Keith Taylor Party : Greens (E&W) Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75153 E-mail : keith.taylor@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Definitely against

: Keith Taylor

MEP : Marta Andreasen Party : UKIP Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75726 E-mail : marta.andreasen@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Marta Andreasen

MEP : Nigel Farage Party : UKIP Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75855 E-mail : nigel.farage@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Nigel Farage

MEP : Nirj Deva Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 77245 E-mail : nirj.deva@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Defer

: Nirj Deva

MEP : Peter Skinner Party : Labour Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75458 E-mail : peter.skinner@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Will decide with rest of party

: Peter Skinner

MEP : Richard Ashworth Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75309 E-mail : richardjames.ashworth@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Will decide with rest of party

: Richard Ashworth

South West England

MEP : Ashley Fox Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75677 E-mail : ashley.fox@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Ashley Fox

MEP : Giles Chichester Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75296 E-mail : giles.chichester@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Giles Chichester

MEP : Sir Graham Watson Party : Lib Dem Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75626 E-mail : graham.watson@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Likely against

: Sir Graham Watson

MEP : Julie Girling Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75678 E-mail : julie.girling@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Julie Girling

MEP : Trevor Colman Party : UKIP Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75763 E-mail : trevor.colman@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Trevor Colman

MEP : William, Earl of Dartmouth Party : UKIP Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75735 E-mail : william.dartmouth@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: William, Earl of Dartmouth

Wales

MEP : Derek Vaughan Party : Labour Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75419 E-mail : derek.vaughan@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Derek Vaughan

MEP : Jill Evans Party : PC Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75103 E-mail : Jill.evans@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Jill Evans

MEP : Eluned Morgan Party : Labour Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +33 3 88 175 457 E-mail : eluned.morgan@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Eluned Morgan

MEP : John Bufton Party : UKIP Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75730 E-mail : john.bufton@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: John Bufton

West Midlands

MEP : Anthea McIntyre Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75106 E-mail : anthea.mcintyre@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Wait for ECJ decision

: Anthea McIntyre

MEP : Malcolm Harbour Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75132 E-mail : malcolm.harbour@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Malcolm Harbour

MEP : Michael Cashman Party : Labour Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75759 E-mail : michael.cashman@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): In Favour

: Michael Cashman

MEP : Mike Nattrass Party : UKIP Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75133 E-mail : michaelhenry.nattrass@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Mike Nattrass

MEP : Nikki Sinclaire Party : Independent Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75756 E-mail : nikki.sinclaire@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Nikki Sinclaire

MEP : Phil Bennion Party : Lib Dem Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75521 E-mail : phil.bennion@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Phil Bennion

MEP : Philip Bradbourn Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75407 E-mail : philip.bradbourn@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Philip Bradbourn

Yorkshire and the Humber

MEP : Andrew Brons Party : BNP Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75773 E-mail : andrew.brons@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Andrew Brons

MEP : Edward McMillan-Scott Party : Lib Dem Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75959 E-mail : edward.mcmillan-scott@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Edward McMillan-Scott

MEP : Godfrey Bloom MEP Party : Conservative Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +33 3 88 175 469 E-mail : godfrey.bloom@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Godfrey Bloom MEP

MEP : Linda McAvan Party : Labour Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75438 E-mail : linda.mcavan@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Linda McAvan

MEP : Rebecca Taylor Party : Lib Dem Contact Tel (Strasbourg): +333 88 1 75201 E-mail : rebecca.taylor@europarl.europa.eu Position on ACTA (if known): Not known

: Rebecca Taylor