The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) reaches a decisive stage when Parliament as a whole votes Wednesday on whether to consent to it. If Parliament says "no", then ACTA's prospects are dead so far as the EU is concerned.
A majority in the International Trade Committee, which led Parliament's scrutiny of ACTA, recommended that Parliament should reject it. Four other committees (Civil Liberties, Industry, Legal Affairs and Development), recommended likewise and the Petitions Committee accepted concerns voiced by millions worldwide. However, the committee recommendations are not binding on Parliament as a whole.
ACTA, which was negotiated by the EU, the US, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Switzerland, was designed to step up the enforcement of intellectual property rights, combat online piracy and prevent imports of counterfeit goods. To become law in the EU, it must be approved by Parliament, which can say yes or no to ACTA but cannot modify it.
Procedure: Consent
Debate: Tuesday, 3 July
Vote: Wednesday 4 July
Who will be the three lucky winners going to Strasbourg to interview president @Martin Schulz? Come see who is in the lead, cast your vote and tip the scales...(read more) Facebook 
Instagram - Behind the scenes of the plenary Directly from us to you... Look at our Instagram pictures taken behind the scenes of the May plenary session in Strasbourg. And find more pics @...(read more) Facebook 
Travelling with your pet? There are 64 million cats and 66 million dogs in the EU, which could need a passport or vaccination to cross borders. Parliament has...(read more) Facebook 
Photo of the day: flags in front of the Parliament building in Strasbourg. Facebook