Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, speaks about the ongoing negotiations concerning copyright in the Digital Single Market, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Brussels

digital single market (T)

statement

copyright law (T)

VOSS, Axel (EPP, DE)

Copyright in the Digital Single Market: statement by Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, on the ongoing negotiations

SOUNDBITE (German), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, Unfortunately, the Council has cancelled the trilogue for today because they did not get a mandate in the COREPER on Friday to continue to negotiate. This in turn goes back to a dispute between two member states over the exemption for micro and small businesses from Article 13.

SOUNDBITE (German), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, In this case, Germany is very much focused on the fact that they would like to have an exception for micro enterprises and start ups. While France in this case says no, that can be damaging for the entire copyright and that's why they were pitted against each other. The situation was then that those who were not very happy anyway with the copyright on the German side came down on it so that it came to a kind of blocking minority. Of course, this is very unlucky for the whole situation in order to come to an end with the copyright.

SOUNDBITE (German), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, In the next step, Germany and France would now have to come to an agreement on this problem, which, in my opinion, can actually happen with a bit of creativity and good will. In a second step, the Romanian Council Presidency would have to get the mandate to be able to open the last trilogue with us. And then Parliament and Council and also the Commission, will agree on a text, as well. The opportunity is there and we should also use this momentum.