After two years of often bitter debate, the European Parliament approved a raft of new telecom laws Tuesday.

Majority support for the package was achieved after the Parliament reached a compromise with national governments earlier this month on the controversial issue of illegal file sharing over the Internet.

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Euro-Parliament backs greater rights for telecoms, internet users
The European parliament approved Tuesday a major overhaul of EU telecoms law aimed at boosting the rights of European mobile phone and Internet users and protection against access restrictions.

The move, after months of bargaining, was eventually approved by a broad majority.
www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/parliment-telecoms.1m8

European telecoms future in MEPs’ hands ahead of crucial vote
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will vote tomorrow to decide whether or not a much-debated set of reforms to EU telecoms regulation will pass into law. Parliament negotiators have already backed the proposal.

The Telecoms Package of reforms was first proposed by the European Commission in 2007 but has proved controversial. Agreement was finally reached between the Commission, Parliament and Council of Ministers earlier this year on almost all of the proposals.
out-law.com/page-10545

European MPs votes on new telecoms law
A major overhaul of telecoms law across Europe is due on 24 November as the European Parliament votes on new rules.

The package comes amid controversial laws being introduced in France and the UK to cut off persistent illegal downloaders.

Protecting internet access and users’ rights was a high priority for MEPs hammering out the Telecoms Package.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8376004.stm