E-Privacy Directive Proposal COM(2000) 385

As part of the Legislative proposals for a new Regulatory Framework for electronic communications arising from the 1999 Telecommunications Review, the European Commission proposes a ban on Unsolicited Commercial Email. Specifically, this is to take the form of a requirement that advertising email be sent only to those subscribers who have given their prior consent, the same as for automated calling systems and fax. (See discussion and text.)

This was hotly contested by the direct marketers. They wanted to carry on in the grand old way of gathering and trading addresses behind your back. They wanted to be allowed to send you advertising until you beg them to stop. They assumed the right to control your mailbox.

In the run-up to the Second Reading, an acceptable compromise was hammered out amongst the Commission, the Council, and the two largest political groups, namely PPE-DE (European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats) and PSE (Socialists). Special thanks to Aña Palacio-Vallersundi (PPE-DE, ES) and Elena Ornella Paciotti (PSE, IT) for their efforts.

Thanks also to Lousewies van der Laan (ELDR, NL), Ilka Schröder (GUE/NGL, DE), Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL, GR), Kathalijne Maria Buitenweg (Verts/ALE, NL) and many others for their consistent support of "opt-in".

Thanks to Marian Grubben of the Commission for the original draft which "set the ball rolling" and special thanks to Commissioner Erkki Liikanen for consistently and vigourously representing the Commission's position in numerous meetings.

And many, many thanks to all of those who had taken the time to contact their MEPs!