With only 16 votes in it (306 - 322), the European Parliament today rejected a joint resolution on ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement) tabled by four political groups and adopted a resolution tabled by the right.

"This is a very small majority", GUE/NGL MEP Helmut Scholz said, "and this shows that the Commission failed to convince Parliament that the serious problems MEPs raised in March have been met".

Scholz considers that "the MEPs who voted against the joint resolution are refusing to allow Parliament to use its new powers on trade matters".

"We lost a battle today" Scholz said. "If the Commission does not address the concerns of MEPs and society before signing the agreement, they risk seeing ACTA rejected when it requires the consent of Parliament. The narrow margin of votes between left and right today shows that this is a distinct possibility."

 
GUE/NGL PRESS CONTACT
Gianfranco Battistini + 32 475 646628
Gay Kavanagh + 32 473 42320
David Lundy + 32 485 50 58 12