The European Parliament approved the European e-commerce directive on May 4. Member states will have 18 months in which to incorporate the directive into national law. A directive on electronic signatures was also approved recently. The two directives will allow e-commerce companies to trade freely in Europe as long as they are complying with the laws of their home country. Member states will be able to impose restrictions on cross-border e-commerce services based outside their borders if they are needed to protect the public.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Trade and Industry told The Journal on May 15 that the E-commerce Bill currently going through Parliament would implement most of the directives' requirements.
Further details can be found on the internet at europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/en/media/eleccomm/index.htm.