The law was proposed as a simple 2-year extension of the rules that have now expired, but which were highly controversial due to their negative impact on privacy rights and disputed effectiveness.

They were initially intended to be temporary while a permanent framework, known as the Child Sexual Abuse Regulation (CSAR), is being negotiated among institutions. But over 4 years after it was first proposed, the permanent framework is still under discussion.

The Friday talks among ambassadors come after the Parliament’s President, Roberta Metsola, asked the European Council on 18 June to resume negotiations on the file, despite the European Parliament having already voted down the text in March.

A spokesperson for Metsola said that the speech she gave at the Council was based on a clear mandate from Parliament.

“This was raised and asked for by groups in the Conference of Presidents meeting” they spokesperson said.

Still, Joveva said she wasn’t informed in advance that Metsola would ask the Council to take up the file.

The Council “unfortunately seem[s] to find unexpected assistance from within the Parliament”, she said.

The file remains highly contentious. Back in March, finger pointing erupted from all sides, including within the Parliament, after trilogue talks with the Council failed to produce an agreement.

MEPs from Metsola’s own European People’s Party (EPP) political group blamed others for their lack of flexibility, which they said was behind the failed attempt to reach an agreement with the Council.

In its note, the Cyprus presidency suggests that the Council should carefully consider whether to pick up the file, given that the Parliament had previously struck it down.

The Cyprus presidency also warns that picking up the file could affect negotiations on the main CSAR file, for which a trilogue is scheduled for 29 June.

(cm)