8th May 2012: At the European Parliament in Brussels, Andrew Brons made his second speech of the morning during a debate in the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE) on The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).
He said:
"I am, of course, opposed to the EU signing treaties on behalf of member states. However, the UK signed the Agreement individually in January, so my opposition is rather an academic point.
"I am told that the Agreement in its original form would affect adversely the production of generic medicines. If this provision were to remain in its final form, the populations of poorer countries might not be able to afford medicines at all.
"The removal of protection from service providers for the actions of their service providers could lead those service providers to withdraw their facilities from subscribers for minor infringements.
"The criminalisation of minor and possibly accidental copyright infringements and the use of invasive searches and prosecutions are completely disproportionate.
"Furthermore, it will facilitate the bullying of small organisations: businesses, parties and pressure groups by the Political Class, by selective, invasive criminal investigations and prosecutions for minor infringements of copyright that are sometimes difficult to avoid."
