EU Coalition Unlikely to Block Software Directive

On January 11, 2005, Euractiv reported that "There was no indication on 10 January that the motion [by 61 MEPs in the European Parliament asking for the Commission to reconsider its proposal on the software patents directive would stand a chance of being voted on by Parliament any time soon. Under article 55 of the Parliament's rules of procedures, the initiative would need to come from the committee in charge of the dossier. . . . A spokesperson for the Greens told EurActiv that the initiative will fail as it would first need approval from the Conference of Presidents of political parties in parliament."

Techworld also reported that "Leo Baumann of the European IT and communications industry association (EICTA), said he doesn't expect the group will be successful in its request. "It's possible to do that but you need a majority of the European Parliament and the approval of the conference of presidents (leaders of the political groups). I don't expect it to happen."