Helft, die Schriftliche Erklärung 12/2010 über ACTA zu unterzeichnen

On Sept. 9th, 2010, the written declaration 12/2010 got 393 signatures, and therefore was adopted by the European Parliament. Thanks a lot to all the citizens who took part in this victory! The fight is not over: ACTA must be rejected!.

For current actions, see this guide on Gegen_ACTA_auftreten.

5 Minuten Hilfe damit das Europäische Parlament ACTA in die Schranken weist!

Siehe auch die aktuelle Liste der Mitzeichner der schriftlichen Erklärung 12/2010 zu ACTA.

'''Diese Kampagne ist eine Wikiseite. Jeder darf editieren um es zu verbessern und Informationen beizutragen.'''

Worum geht's?
Die Schriftliche Erklärung ("Written declaration") 12/2010 wurde von folgenden Mitgliedern des Parlamentes interfraktionell initiiert: Françoise Castex (S&D, FR), Alexander Alvaro (ALDE, DE), Stavros Lambrinidis (S&D, GR) und Zuzana Roithová (EPP, CZ).  Die Schriftliche Erklärung drückt die Bedenken bezüglich ACTA - Abkürzung für Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement - aus, und erklärt, dass das verhandelte Abkommen die Redefreiheit, Datenschutz und Netzneutralität respektieren muss (indem Internetakteure vor exzessiver Haftung geschützt werden). Sie ruft die Kommission auf, alle Verhandlungstexte zu veröffentlichen.

Das ist eine echte Herausforderung. Es sind nur drei Monate bis zum 8. Juli um Unterschriften von mehr als der Häfte der Mitglieder des europäischen Parlamentes zu sammeln. UPDATE - FRISTVERLÄNGERUNG: EFF Website schreibt August 2010: "353 Members of European Parliament (MEPs) have now signed the Written Declaration on ACTA, and the deadline for obtaining the remaining 16 signatures has been extended to 9 September." Falls das gelingt, wird die Erklärung zur offiziellen Position des Europäischen Parlamentes. Je mehr Mitzeichner gesammelt werden, desto stärker das politische Signal. (Zum Hintergrund über "written declarations" sei auf die Parlamentspräsenz im Internet verwiesen)

Innerhalb und ausserhalb des Parlamentes kann jeder Europäische Bürger an dieser Aktion teilnehmen und seinen Abgeordneten mit der Bitte um Mitzeichnung von 12/2010 ansprechen!

Wann?
Mitzeichnungen von Europaabgeordneten sind möglich vom 8. März 2010 über einen Zeitraum von drei Monaten.

'Vom 17. bis 20. Mai, ruft die Büros der deutschen Abgeordneten in Straßburg an!' Der Zeitrahmen in dem die meisten Europaabgeordneten Schriftliche Erklärungen mitzeichnen ist die Strassburgwoche (MEPs must get to sign on a table in front the hemicycle) nämlich 4 Plenarsitzuingen, wenn alle MdEP in Strasbourg sind:

* Week from Sept 6th to Sept 9th
 * Week from Mar 8th to Mar 11th
 * Week from Apr 19th to Apr 22nd
 * Week from May 17th to May 20th
 * Week from Jun 14th to Jun 17th
 * Week from July 5th to July 8th

Falls Du persönlich vor Ort Deine Europaabgeordneten in Strassburg zum Zeichnen bewegen willst, wende Dich an das wd122010@laquadrature.net Team

Wen? (Ziel, Liste der Unterzeichner und Nicht-Unterzeichner)
Alle Mitglieder des Europäischen Parlamentes können diese Erklärung 12/2010 mitzeichnen. Je mehr desto besser.


 * Wir sollten uns auf deutsche oder österreichische Abgeordnete konzentrieren. Am wichtigsten sind die Mitglieder der Europäischen Volkspartei (CDU/CSU). Argumente über die Parlamentskompetenzen und die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit von innovativen ICT Firmen aus Europe im digitalen Umfeld bieten sich hier an.


 * Grundsätzlich sollten aber Abgeordnete aller Fraktionen angesprocvhen werden. Die Namen der Initiatoren aus der jeweiligen politischen Gruppierung sollten erwähnt werden (Frau Roithová für die Union (EPP), Mr Lambrinidis and Mrs Castex für Sozialdemokraten(S&D), Alvaro für die Liberalen(ALDE).


 * Viele Sozialdemokraten haben noch nicht mitgezeichnet.


 * Manchmal warten die Abgeordneten auf ein Signal des Fraktionsexperten bevor sie mitzeichnen. Finde heraus, wer der Meinungsführer ist, und versuche ihn zu überzeugen.

Die Ergebnisse der Bemühungen bitte an wd122010@laquadrature.net berichten

 Die Liste der Mitzeichner wird ständig auf den neusten Stand gebracht

Wie?
Deine Abgeordnenten können die Büros der Initiatoren anrufen, um mehr Informationen zu erhalten: Castex ([callto://+33388175129 +33388175129]), Alvaro ([callto://+33388175328 +33388175328]), Lambrinidis ([callto://+33388175529 +33388175529]), Roithová ([callto://+33388175485 +33388175485]).


 * MEPs receive hundreds of mails per day, so sending an email, even if important, is often not enough to move the MEP to sign the written declaration.
 * A phonecall to an MEP or his or her assistant has much more impact.
 * The ideal is to send an email, then call. You can start by asking "(Hello my name is XY and I live in Z) I just sent you an email, have you read it? No? Let me tell you about it... ".
 * Always refer to the written declaration as "Written Declaration 12/2010 by MEPs Castex, Alvaro, Lambrinidis, Roithová".
 * Always be polite. Your interlocutor probably doesn't know much about ACTA and follows many other issues that have little to do with ACTA, but has a good capacity of understanding.

You can send this 2 pages document containing important quotes about ACTA and the text of the written declaration.

Arguments
You can convince the MEPs to sign the Written Declaration 12/2010 with the following arguments:

Political arguments

 * Written declaration 12/2010 was initially signed by MEPs Roithová (EPP) / Castex and Lambrinidis (S&D) / Alvaro (ALDE).
 * It is a clear signal to send to the EU citizens that the European Parliament is here to protect their rights.
 * It is a strong message sent by the Parliament to the Commission that democratic process cannot be circumvented.
 * It allows to each signatory MEP to show his commitment towards protecting citizens rights.
 * It is consistent with the position already taken by the Parliament when it adopted resolution RC-B7-0154/2010 with an overwhelming majority.
 * ACTA removes the competency of the European Parliament to deal with civil and criminal sanctions related to counterfeiting.

Technische Argumente

 * Einfacher Text mit einfacher Aussage
 * Bestätigt allgemeine Prinzipien der Union: Grundrechteschutz, Parlamentskompetenz bzgl. Urheberrecht und Transparenz.
 * ACTA zielt auf gesteigerte Haftung von Internetanbieter für Konsumenten. Das ist recht gefährlich denn es verwandelt sie, zur Vermeidung rechtlicher Probleme in Hilfsherrifs, die darüber befinden welche Inhalte zu entfernen, filtern oder blockierne seien und wem der Zugang zu verweigern ist.

Beispielanrufe
This is just an example of phone call, to give an idea. It is not intended to be reused as such. Spontaneity is always better....

Here is an example phone, to help you to know how to talk to MEPs assistants:


 * YOU: "Hello, I would like to talk to Mrs/Mr MEP, please."
 * Assistant: "Mrs/Mr MEP is not available, I am her/his assistant. Can I help you?"''
 * YOU: "I am MyName, calling from MyCountry, I am very much concerned by the ACTA agreement currently under negociation. Has Mrs/Mr MEP signed the Written Declaration 12/2010 by MEPs Castex, Alvaro, Lambrinidis, Roithová?"
 * Assistant: "I see. We had calls before. I have no time."''
 * YOU: "But it is very important! The whole negotiation is circumventing the democratic process and could radically alter the Internet and citizens freedoms."
 * Assistant: "Don't worry. The Commission is negociating, everything will be fine, the texts might be published soon."
 * YOU: "An analysis by the Commission itself shows that current versions go beyond the EU acquis. The ACTA agreement lets the Commission negotiate on civil and criminal sanctions. It is not just a trade agreement. The European Parliament must show its commitment to protecting EU citizens. Mrs/Mr MEP should really sign the declaration 12/2010"
 * Assistant: "I'll tell Mrs/Mr MEP."
 * YOU: "Thank you very much for listening to me. I'll call you again shortly to know what he/she thought. Have a good day."

Example mails
Don't hesitate to copy the mails you send to the MEPs to this dedicated page

Hintergrundinfos

 * European Data Protection Supervisor press release and the 20-page opinion.


 * Leaked ACTA document of the European Commission outlining the positions of negotiating countries on the language of the civil enforcement chapter and the digital chapter.


 * La Quadrature's policy brief on ACTA.


 * EDRi's FAQ on ACTA digital chapter.


 * Reporters Without Borders' press release on the dangers of ACTA for freedom of expression.


 * FFII's analysis of ACTA.


 * Michael Geist's posts on ACTA.


 * Erika Mann's opinion in Zeit-online on ACTA


 * WeRebuild.eu's introduction to ACTA: Analysis and introduction to key actors.


 * Erika Mann's


 * OXFAM's press release on why ACTA would undermine public health at the global level.


 * ETNO's position on ACTA.


 * EuroISPA's position paper on ACTA.


 * La Quadrature's commented Written declaration 12, leaflet handed out to MEPs.


 * Poster displayed in strategic places of the European Parliaments to urge MEPs to sign the written declaration 12.

FAQ
Insert here questions that may arise while contacting MEPs. We will try to answer them as quickly as possible


 * Why sign the written declaration?

It is important that the European Parliament shows its commitment to protecting EU citizens freedoms, and an open Internet. It would be a strong political signal to the European Commission and to the EU Member States.


 * Isn't there also an oral question and a common resolution?

The oral question and the common resolution are complementary with the Written Declaration. While the common resolution is a parliamentary resolution that will be voted on this Wednesday, the Written Declaration will have three months to collect signatures. The common resolution that is more technical proposal focusing on the application of Community Acqui and has been negotiated among political groups while the Written Declaration is more about the political content of ACTA reflecting a campaign of civil society groups.


 * How can an MEP sign the written declaration?

He or She must personally sign the declaration on a table in front of the hemicycle during plenary sessions or go to the written question room at the European Parliament in Brussels.


 * Will ACTA mandate restrictions on Internet access?

No, but it will mandate Internet Server Provider liability and in order to avoid liability the ISPs will police the web and restrict access to Internet as a voluntary exercise of "self-regulation".


 * Is the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) primarily about counterfeiting?

ACTA does contain provisions that might strengthen enforcement against counterfeit goods, but its objectives are far broader. It includes mandated penalties for non-commercial copyright infringement, new criminal enforcement measures on patents, a new global regulation for Internet and measures that affect world trade in generic medicines.


 * How does ACTA raise serious concerns about data protection and privacy?

ACTA proposes a global increase in monitoring, filtering and surveillance that means serious threat to private data protection. As the EU Data Protection Supervisor has stated "the (unnoticed) monitoring would affect millions of individuals and all users, irrespective of whether they are under suspicion."