Electronic communication, open networks safety: electronic signatures, common regulatory framework

Under co-decision procedure at first reading, the report drafted by Wolfgang Ullmann (D, Greens) on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on a common framework for electronic signatures was approved. The Parliament's amendments to this proposal relate to following areas: - the need for clear common framework conditions for electronic signatures to strengthen confidence in and general acceptance of the new technologies; - divergent measures in the Member States should not be allowed to hinder free movement in the internal market; - the Commission will review this Directive before 2003 to ensure that the advance of technology or changes to the legal environment have not created barriers to achieving its aims; it will submit a report to the Council and the Parliament regarding the implications of associated technical areas such as confidentiality; - in an internal market which also comprises the free movement of persons, the Parliament accepts the electronic filing of petitions; - agreements with third countries on mutual recognition of certification services should repect the right of the EU and its Member States to maintain and further develop existing rules on data protection; such agreemnts should cover data protection and respect for privacy; - the directive should not prejudice existing national provisions concerned with public policy or public security or relating to provision of confidentiality services.�