The "Telecoms Package" is a set of five European Directives regulating electronic communication networks. The text was voted in first reading in the European Parliament in Sept.24th 2008. Serious problems arose in this first reading on the issues of Privacy, Network neutrality and regarding the implementation of a mechanism known as "graduated response" at the European level.As already stated on 6 October, the Commission can accept this amendment (138), which was voted by a nine-tenths majority in the European Parliament plenary (MEMO/08/681). The Commission considers this amendment to be an important restatement of key legal principles of the Community legal order, especially of citizens' fundamental rights. It leaves Member States sufficient scope for reaching a fair balance between different fundamental rights, in particular the right to respect for private life, the right to protection of property, the right to an effective remedy and the right to freedom of expression and information.
European Commission - press release on the first reading vote of the Telecoms Package, on Sept 24th 2008
