James Delahunty
21 Apr 2009 13:12
Despite the fact that it had nothing to do with EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding's telecoms reforms, arguments over how to tackle illegal downloading has stalled the entire process. There is broad agreement over the reform package without the anti-piracy measures (covers infrastructure and not content), but it is now causing a last minute stand-off between states and parliament, pushing back final adoption to May at earliest.
There is agreement too that Internet service providers should be able to cut access to pirates with approval from "a competent legal authority." The industry committee votes on the draft deal on Tuesday evening, setting up a clash with EU states over what some see as a purely political issue rather than one of substance.
"This is the major sticking point. It is clear member states won't agree to this going into the body of the text," an EU diplomat said. "It would be a shame if the whole reform was held back just because of something which was not in the original proposal."