Nieuws-items bij K.L.G.E. (Karel) De Gucht
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05-06China start anti-dumpingonderzoek EU-wijn als reactie op zonnepanelenheffing
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05-06'Handelsoorlog met China onwaarschijnlijk'
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31-05Speech - The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Growth for Europe and Spain
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22-05Speech: Remarks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
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15-05Statement van eurocommissaris De Gucht over Chinese telecomnetwerken (en)
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22-04Eurocommissaris voor Handel Karel de Gucht: de Europese culturele verscheidenheid staat niet ter discussie (en)
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19-04Speech: The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Global Impacts
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18-04Speech: Business and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
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18-04Speech: Opening the doors to transatlantic trade
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25-03Speech: Press Conference: Remarks on the launch of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Japan
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25-03Challenge and Opportunity: Starting the negotiations for Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Japan
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22-03Karel De Gucht wél naar Japan (en)
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12-03Eurocommissaris De Gucht over ontwerp-mandaat EU-VS handelsonderhandelingen (en)
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07-03Speech: EU-Vietnam Trade Negotiations: Renovation and Openness
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06-03Speech: Open Markets: Making the Case
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02-03Speech: A European Perspective on Transatlantic Free Trade
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21-02Toespraak De Gucht: EU start grootste onderhandelingen vrijhandelzone ooit (en)
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30-01Hoge Vertegenwoordiger Ashton en Eurocommissaris De Gucht sporen Bangladesh aan tot verbeterde veiligheid in fabrieken (en)
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26-01Toespraak eurocommissaris De Gucht: handel, investeringen en duurzame welvaart (en)
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16-01Handel voor groei (fr)
BRUSSELS - EU Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes has admitted defeat on the controversial anti-counterfeit treaty Acta, with her official spokesman telling reporters that the treaty's demise is a "political reality".
Speaking at a conference on internet freedom in Berlin on Friday (4 May), Commissioner Kroes told delegates that "we are now likely to be in a world without SOPA (an anti-piracy bill under discussion in the US Congress) and Acta."
Kroes also referred to the campaign mounted by internet freedom groups as "a strong political voice", adding that "thousands of people are willing to protest against rules which they see as constraining the openness and innovation of the Internet."
Next week, MEPs in the Petitions committee will discuss the anti-Acta petition launched by campaign group Avaaz which collected over 2.4 million signatures.
Commissioner Kroes is the first member of the EU executive to break ranks in publicly admitting that there is little prospect of Acta being ratified by the EU.
Publicly the EU executive, for whom Trade Commission Karel de Gucht led negotiations on the EU's behalf, has continued to defend the substance of the treaty, and has called on MEPs to delay their vote until after the European Court of Justice releases its legal opinion on Acta.
The Commission referred Acta to the Luxembourg-based court hoping that it would clarify that the treaty does not affect existing EU law or breach the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Kroes' speech comes as the European Parliament is poised to reject Acta. Last week the legislature's International Trade committee began debate on a recommendation by centre-left MEP David Martin to veto the deal, with the final vote in Parliament expected in June or July.
Meanwhile, the Liberal group of MEPs (ALDE) became the latest political group to come out against the treaty.
MEPs are also expected to start work on a report laying out issues ear-marked for re-negotiation. Some MEPs are expected to push for a sector-by-sector approach to anti-piracy measures, while others are seeking to completely re-open the text with a fresh negotiating mandate for the Commission.
However, seeking re-negotiation of Acta would be a major embarrassment for the Commission and would also require the agreement of other countries, including the US, Japan and Australia, who signed up to the treaty.
Six EU member states have already ratified the treaty which will now apply to their national law, causing concern about a fragmented international rule-book on online anti-counterfeit activities.
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