The text before parliament was the so-called common position, achieved after nineteen months of negotiation by diplomatic representatives of the EU member states

摘要

The European Parliament in strasbourg voted on 14 February 2001 to adopt the draft EU Directive on copyright in the information society, with overall minor modifications. This is almost the final stage before the Directive officially becomes European law. Parliament's second reading opinion has now been forwarded to the European Commission and the Council of Ministers. If the Commission and the Council agree with Parliament's amendments, the Directive could become official as early as 2001. Commission welcomes Parliament's vote. Commissioner for the Internal Market, Frits Bolkestein, welcomed Parliament's vote. "I am delighted that the European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to endorse the compromise amendments to the EU copyright Directive that reflect the delicate balance of interests catered for in the Council's Common Position", said Mr Bolkestein after the vote. "Parliament's vote should help to ensure the rapid adoption of this important measure to bring European copyright rules into the digital age, as requested by the EU's Heads of State and Government at the Lisbon Summit. The rapid implementation of this Directive will facilitate the development of electronic commerce and so increase the competitiveness of the European economy."