European Parliament
Martin Kastler  (PPE ),
in writing.
(DE)
Along with a large majority in Parliament, I have voted against the ACTA. Today it is a case of ACTA
ad acta
. Tomorrow it will be a new start for increased market protection. In its current form, the ACTA was beset with too many errors and a lack of clarity. It confused people and resulted in a large amount of public pressure in the social networks and new media, the latter being something positive. I also still find it annoying that for years the ACTA was kept secret and was only made public at a late stage following intensive pressure from the European Parliament. We MEPs were expected to rubber stamp everything in a fast-track procedure. That is not acceptable. Many mistakes were made that we can only correct by making a completely new start. The clear ‘no’ to ACTA is, for me, an unqualified ‘yes’ to global protection against ‘commercial-scale counterfeiting and piracy’, which is actually the key concern of the agreement. Without effective, global coordination of copyright protection, Europe has a great deal to lose. Intellectual property is Europe’s most valuable raw material. Our decision today clears the way for the development of a new, better and transparent agreement under European leadership. This process can and must take place in dialogue with all ‘stakeholders’ – with the focus on people and ethics.

