ACTA, CETA, etc. Stop Denying Democracy!

October 24th, 2012, press release.

In 2011 and 2012, European citizens took to the streets to protest against secret negociations of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) that threatened their fundamental freedoms. This led to a massive rejection of the agreement in the European Parliament in last July. The message was clear: no repressive measures without a democratic debate by our elected representatives. .

Nevertheless, the European Comission and the Member States are still trying to force the adoption of repressive measures that undermine fundamental freedoms, under the cover of trade agreements kept secret. The Canada-EU Trade Agreement (CETA), the India-EU, Thailand-EU, Moldavia-EU Free Trade Agreements, etc.: all these agreements might include dispositions harmful for Internet users's rights, access to essential drugs or the use of free software..

It is unacceptable that measures threatening fundamental freedoms be negotiated in total opacity by unelected administrators when these provisions, which go way beyond trade agreements, must be debated in a democratic and transparent way.

Act Up-Paris, l'April and La Quadrature du Net demand :

• that the Commission :
  • immmediately publish the content of currently negociated agreements,
  • stop including provisions in trade agreements that undermine fundamental freedoms, the development of free software or access to affordable generic drugs for millions of people;
• that EU Member States take their responsibilities and:
  • inform citizens on criminal sanctions provisions currently being negotiated,
  • remind the European Commission of the limits of its negotiating mandate,
  • publicly take position against the inclusion in trade agreements of measures that threaten fundamental freedoms, the development of free software or access to affordable generic drugs for millions of people.

About Act Up-Paris

Press contact :Céline Grillon, in charge of International advocacy, international@actupparis.org +33 6 50 01 39 10.

About April

Pioneer of free software in France, April is since 1996 a major player in the democratisation and the spread of Free Software and open standards to the general public, professionals and institutions in the French-speaking world. In the digital era that is ours, it also aims to inform the public on the dangers of an exclusive appropriation ofinformation an knowledge by private interests.

The association has over 5,000 members, using or producing Free Software.

For more information, you may go to the following website: http://www.april.org/, contact us by phone at +33 178 769 280 or through our contact form.

Press contacts:

Frédéric Couchet, Executive Director, fcouchet@april.org +33 660 688 931
Jeanne Tadeusz, Public Affairs Officer, jtadeusz@april.org +33 1 78 76 92 82.

About La Quadrature du Net

La Quadrature du Net is an advocacy group that defends the rights and freedoms of citizens on the Internet. More specifically, it advocates for the adaptation of French and European legislations to respect the founding principles of the Internet, most notably the free circulation of knowledge.

In addition to its advocacy work, the group also aims to foster a better understanding of legislative processes among citizens. Through specific and pertinent information and tools, La Quadrature du Net hopes to encourage citizens' participation in the public debate on rights and freedoms in the digital age.

La Quadrature du Net is supported by French, European and international NGOs including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Open Society Institute and Privacy International.

Press contact : Jérémie Zimmermann, spokesperson, jz@laquadrature.net, +33 (0)615 940 675.