By Martin Banks - 11th July 2012
Acta is like a Frankenstein
Nigel Farage
UKIP deputy Nigel Farage has accused the EU of trying to push through the controversial anti-counterfeiting trade agreement (Acta) deal "by the back door".
The agreement, which would force internet service providers to hand over the personal details of anyone suspected of infringing copyright online, was recently rejected by parliament.
But Farage says the "most contested" sections of Acta also appear in a trade agreement between the EU and Canada.
Negotiations on that deal, called CETA, are in their final stages.
Farage says Acta's supporters are trying to get its most controversial provisions past MEPs knowing that they would not be able to object to the full agreement on grounds they have already acceded to in another.
On Wednesday, Farage told this website, "CETA is Acta with a few baubles attached.
"Acta has already been voted down by parties like Ukip in parliament, so we are demanding that the commission respect this vote."
Farage has table a question to the commission which asks if it "will undertake a revision of the EU-Canada deal to remove all proposals similar to Acta".
He said, "I have put in a question asking the commission to thoroughly revise the CETA agreement by taking out everything that would implement Acta through the backdoor.
"If the commission has a glimmer of respect for the voice of the people it would change CETA as soon as possible and stop trying to bring Acta into legislative life by stealth.
"Acta is like a Frankenstein which has been bolted together and keeps on moving. It is dangerous and must be brought to an end immediately."
Acta was the subject of widespread protests in Europe after the nature of its provisions became apparent. Some 2.5 million people petitioned against it.
It was negotiated in secret and only became public when drafts were leaked.
Internet freedom campaigners have warned that they expect its most controversial sections of Acta to keep appearing in draft agreements in an attempt to push them through.
Five parliamentary committees voted against it but the European court still has to make a ruling on the "legality" of the deal.
Meanwhile, parliament's civil liberties, justice and home affairs committee has adopted a report by Green MEP Hélène Flautre dealing with new revelations of secret detention centres and extraordinary 'renditions' in member states.
The report, which comes five years after an original special inquiry on the issue by parliament, highlights new revelations of human rights violations.
Flautre said, "Parliament has again shone the spotlight on serious human rights abuses by the CIA and delivered a rebuke to those EU member states complicit in these abuses.
"MEPs have come under considerable pressure from different national and other interests, seeking to keep a lid on these allegations, but thankfully they stood firm and voted in favour of this report. The new revelations of extraordinary renditions, illegal detention centres and torture are shocking and cannot simply be brushed under the carpet.
"Parliament has spoken very loudly. To put back the same provisions in a much larger trade agreement will make it more difficult to reject. If CETA is successful, then one would think that the European commission would come back and say 'well, you just passed that, so you cannot object to Acta'," said Michael Geist a law professor at the University of Ottawa, who uncovered the documents.
It was negotiated in secret and only became public when drafts were leaked.
Internet freedom campaigners have warned that they expect its most controversial sections of Acta to keep appearing in draft agreements in an attempt to push them through.
