Voting by 478 votes to 39, the European Parliament has listened to citizens and shot down the Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement despite last-ditch EPP trickery.

"This is a great day for participatory democracy and the power of campaigning" said GUE/NGL President Gabi Zimmer, saluting and congratulating the millions of people around the world who helped bring the necessary pressure to bear to defeat ACTA.

"Citizens put their hopes in MEPs to defend their interests against the Commission and big business interests - we have stood up for them in this vote" said GUE/NGL MEP Helmut Scholz. 

"Commissioner De Gucht has suffered a defeat with his misguided attempt to extend corporate control on the internet" Scholz said. "Never has it been so clear that the internet is a vital element in the functioning of European democracy. The whole concept of dealing with information and knowledge is changing and legislation should reflect that or be binned. We urged the Commission years ago to establish transparency in the talks. They refused and continued to defend this awful deal, now they must face the consequences."

The GUE/NGL will continue to support the free exchange of information in the public interest and a model of knowledge-sharing that offers artists a reasonable and adequate income.

See www.guengl.eu/acta for more information.

Full vote result:

Against ACTA: 478

For: 39

Abstentions: 169

GUE/NGL Press Contacts:

David Lundy +32 485 50 58 12

Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20

david.lundy@europarl.europa.eu

gabrielle.kavanagh@europarl.europa.eu

European United Left / Nordic Green Left

European Parliamentary Group

www.guengl.eu