diff --git a/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_vfs.inc.php b/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_vfs.inc.php
index d52b05a1e7..a2793fde20 100644
--- a/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_vfs.inc.php
+++ b/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_vfs.inc.php
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
  * @package api
  * @subpackage vfs
  * @author Ralf Becker <RalfBecker-AT-outdoor-training.de>
- * @copyright (c) 2008-10 by Ralf Becker <RalfBecker-AT-outdoor-training.de>
+ * @copyright (c) 2008-14 by Ralf Becker <RalfBecker-AT-outdoor-training.de>
  * @version $Id$
  */
 
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@
  *
  * The static egw_vfs::copy() method does exactly that, but you have to do it eg. on your own, if
  * you want to copy eg. an uploaded file into the vfs.
+ *
+ * egw_vfs::parse_url($url, $component=-1), egw_vfs::dirname($url) and egw_vfs::basename($url) work
+ * on urls containing utf-8 characters, which get NOT urlencoded in our VFS!
  */
 class egw_vfs extends vfs_stream_wrapper
 {
@@ -331,7 +334,7 @@ class egw_vfs extends vfs_stream_wrapper
 			if (self::LOG_LEVEL > 0) error_log(__METHOD__.'('.array2string($url).','.array2string($path).') already mounted.');
 			return true;	// already mounted
 		}
-		self::load_wrapper(parse_url($url,PHP_URL_SCHEME));
+		self::load_wrapper(self::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_SCHEME));
 
 		if ($check_url && (!file_exists($url) || opendir($url) === false))
 		{
@@ -517,7 +520,7 @@ class egw_vfs extends vfs_stream_wrapper
 						if ($opts['maxdepth']) $opts['depth']++;;
 						unset($opts['order']);
 						unset($opts['limit']);
-						foreach(self::find($options['url']?$file:parse_url($file,PHP_URL_PATH),$opts,true) as $p => $s)
+						foreach(self::find($options['url']?$file:self::parse_url($file,PHP_URL_PATH),$opts,true) as $p => $s)
 						{
 							unset($result[$p]);
 							$result[$p] = $s;
@@ -641,7 +644,7 @@ class egw_vfs extends vfs_stream_wrapper
 			return;	// wrong type
 		}
 		$stat = array_slice($stat,13);	// remove numerical indices 0-12
-		$stat['path'] = parse_url($path,PHP_URL_PATH);
+		$stat['path'] = self::parse_url($path,PHP_URL_PATH);
 		$stat['name'] = $options['remove'] > 0 ? implode('/',array_slice(explode('/',$stat['path']),$options['remove'])) : self::basename($path);
 
 		if ($options['mime'] || $options['need_mime'])
@@ -683,7 +686,7 @@ class egw_vfs extends vfs_stream_wrapper
 		// do we return url or just vfs pathes
 		if (!$options['url'])
 		{
-			$path = parse_url($path,PHP_URL_PATH);
+			$path = self::parse_url($path,PHP_URL_PATH);
 		}
 		$result[$path] = $stat;
 	}
@@ -717,7 +720,7 @@ class egw_vfs extends vfs_stream_wrapper
 		// some precaution to never allow to (recursivly) remove /, /apps or /home
 		foreach((array)$urls as $url)
 		{
-			if (preg_match('/^\/?(home|apps|)\/*$/',parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH)))
+			if (preg_match('/^\/?(home|apps|)\/*$/',self::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH)))
 			{
 				throw new egw_exception_assertion_failed(__METHOD__.'('.array2string($urls).") Cautiously rejecting to remove folder '$url'!");
 			}
@@ -832,7 +835,7 @@ class egw_vfs extends vfs_stream_wrapper
 		}
 		// check if we use an EGroupwre stream wrapper, or a stock php one
 		// if it's not an EGroupware one, we can NOT use uid, gid and mode!
-		if (($scheme = parse_url($stat['url'],PHP_URL_SCHEME)) && !(class_exists(self::scheme2class($scheme))))
+		if (($scheme = self::parse_url($stat['url'],PHP_URL_SCHEME)) && !(class_exists(self::scheme2class($scheme))))
 		{
 			switch($check)
 			{
@@ -1214,7 +1217,7 @@ class egw_vfs extends vfs_stream_wrapper
 	{
 		list($url,$query) = explode('?',$url,2);	// strip the query first, as it can contain slashes
 
-		if ($url == '/' || $url[0] != '/' && parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH) == '/')
+		if ($url == '/' || $url[0] != '/' && self::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH) == '/')
 		{
 			//error_log(__METHOD__."($url) returning FALSE: already in root!");
 			return false;
@@ -1313,7 +1316,7 @@ class egw_vfs extends vfs_stream_wrapper
 		}
 		if ($path[0] != '/')
 		{
-			$path = parse_url($path,PHP_URL_PATH);
+			$path = self::parse_url($path,PHP_URL_PATH);
 		}
 		// we do NOT need to encode % itself, as our path are already url encoded, with the exception of ' ' and '+'
 		// we urlencode double quotes '"', as that fixes many problems in html markup
@@ -1331,7 +1334,7 @@ class egw_vfs extends vfs_stream_wrapper
 	public static function download_zip(Array $files, $name = false)
 	{
 		error_log(__METHOD__ . ': '.implode(',',$files));
-		
+
 		// Create zip file
 		$zip_file = tempnam($GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['temp_dir'], 'zip');
 
@@ -1403,7 +1406,7 @@ class egw_vfs extends vfs_stream_wrapper
 		{
 			$base_dir .='/';
 		}
-		
+
 		// Go into directories, find them all
 		$files = self::find($files);
 		$links = array();
@@ -1477,7 +1480,7 @@ class egw_vfs extends vfs_stream_wrapper
 			error_log('close() result: '.array2string($result));
 			return 'Error creating zip file';
 		}
-		
+
 		error_log("Total files: " . $total_files . " Peak memory to zip: " . self::hsize(memory_get_peak_usage(true)));
 
 		// Stop any buffering
@@ -1804,7 +1807,7 @@ class egw_vfs extends vfs_stream_wrapper
 		{
 			if (substr($file, 0, 6) == '/apps/')
 			{
-				$file = parse_url(egw_vfs::resolve_url_symlinks($path), PHP_URL_PATH);
+				$file = self::parse_url(egw_vfs::resolve_url_symlinks($path), PHP_URL_PATH);
 			}
 
 			//Assemble the thumbnail parameters
diff --git a/phpgwapi/inc/class.filesystem_stream_wrapper.inc.php b/phpgwapi/inc/class.filesystem_stream_wrapper.inc.php
index e76360a82b..dc45a62758 100644
--- a/phpgwapi/inc/class.filesystem_stream_wrapper.inc.php
+++ b/phpgwapi/inc/class.filesystem_stream_wrapper.inc.php
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
  * @package api
  * @subpackage vfs
  * @author Ralf Becker <RalfBecker-AT-outdoor-training.de>
- * @copyright (c) 2008-10 by Ralf Becker <RalfBecker-AT-outdoor-training.de>
+ * @copyright (c) 2008-14 by Ralf Becker <RalfBecker-AT-outdoor-training.de>
  * @version $Id$
  */
 
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ class filesystem_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 		}
 
 		// open the "real" file
-		if (!($this->opened_stream = fopen($path=egw_vfs::decodePath(parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH)),$mode,$options)))
+		if (!($this->opened_stream = fopen($path=egw_vfs::decodePath(egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH)),$mode,$options)))
 		{
 			if (self::LOG_LEVEL) error_log(__METHOD__."($url,$mode,$options) fopen('$path','$mode',$options) returned false!");
 			return false;
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ class filesystem_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	 */
 	static function unlink ( $url )
 	{
-		$path = egw_vfs::decodePath(parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH));
+		$path = egw_vfs::decodePath(egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH));
 
 		// check access rights (file need to exist and directory need to be writable
 		if (!file_exists($path) || is_dir($path) || !egw_vfs::check_access(egw_vfs::dirname($url),egw_vfs::WRITABLE))
@@ -327,8 +327,8 @@ class filesystem_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	 */
 	static function rename ( $url_from, $url_to )
 	{
-		$from = parse_url($url_from);
-		$to   = parse_url($url_to);
+		$from = egw_vfs::parse_url($url_from);
+		$to   = egw_vfs::parse_url($url_to);
 
 		// check access rights
 		if (!($from_stat = self::url_stat($url_from,0)) || !egw_vfs::check_access(egw_vfs::dirname($url_from),egw_vfs::WRITABLE))
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ class filesystem_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	 */
 	static function mkdir ( $url, $mode, $options )
 	{
-		$path = egw_vfs::decodePath(parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH));
+		$path = egw_vfs::decodePath(egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH));
 		$recursive = (bool)($options & STREAM_MKDIR_RECURSIVE);
 
 		// find the real parent (might be more then one level if $recursive!)
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ class filesystem_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	 */
 	static function rmdir ( $url, $options )
 	{
-		$path = egw_vfs::decodePath(parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH));
+		$path = egw_vfs::decodePath(egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH));
 		$parent = dirname($path);
 
 		// check access rights (in real filesystem AND by mount perms)
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ class filesystem_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	 */
 	static function touch($url,$time=null,$atime=null)
 	{
-		$path = egw_vfs::decodePath(parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH));
+		$path = egw_vfs::decodePath(egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH));
 		$parent = dirname($path);
 
 		// check access rights (in real filesystem AND by mount perms)
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ class filesystem_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 
 		$this->opened_dir = null;
 
-		$path = egw_vfs::decodePath(parse_url($this->opened_dir_url = $url,PHP_URL_PATH));
+		$path = egw_vfs::decodePath(egw_vfs::parse_url($this->opened_dir_url = $url,PHP_URL_PATH));
 
 		// ToDo: check access rights
 
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ class filesystem_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	 */
 	static function url_stat ( $url, $flags )
 	{
-		$parts = parse_url($url);
+		$parts = egw_vfs::parse_url($url);
 		$path = egw_vfs::decodePath($parts['path']);
 
 		$stat = @stat($path);	// suppressed the stat failed warnings
@@ -712,7 +712,7 @@ class filesystem_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	 */
 	static function deny_script($url)
 	{
-		$parts = parse_url($url);
+		$parts = egw_vfs::parse_url($url);
 		parse_str($parts['query'],$get);
 
 		$deny = !$get['exec'] && preg_match(self::SCRIPT_EXTENSIONS_PREG,$parts['path']);
diff --git a/phpgwapi/inc/class.global_stream_wrapper.inc.php b/phpgwapi/inc/class.global_stream_wrapper.inc.php
index 1c362f1660..c134baf387 100644
--- a/phpgwapi/inc/class.global_stream_wrapper.inc.php
+++ b/phpgwapi/inc/class.global_stream_wrapper.inc.php
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class global_stream_wrapper
 
     public function stream_open($path, $mode, $options, &$opened_path)
     {
-        $this->stream = &$GLOBALS[$this->name=parse_url($path,PHP_URL_HOST)];
+        $this->stream = &$GLOBALS[$this->name=egw_vfs::parse_url($path,PHP_URL_HOST)];
         $this->pos = 0;
         if (!is_string($this->stream)) return false;
         return true;
diff --git a/phpgwapi/inc/class.links_stream_wrapper.inc.php b/phpgwapi/inc/class.links_stream_wrapper.inc.php
index 3a303a1a38..5ebeb33dc7 100644
--- a/phpgwapi/inc/class.links_stream_wrapper.inc.php
+++ b/phpgwapi/inc/class.links_stream_wrapper.inc.php
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class links_stream_wrapper extends links_stream_wrapper_parent
 		{
 			return true;
 		}
-		$path = parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
+		$path = egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
 
 		list(,$apps,$app,$id,$rel_path) = explode('/',$path,5);
 
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ class links_stream_wrapper extends links_stream_wrapper_parent
 		// if entry directory does not exist --> return fake directory
 		elseif (!($ret = parent::url_stat($url,$flags,$eacl_check)) && $eacl_check)
 		{
-			list(,/*$apps*/,/*$app*/,$id,$rel_path) = explode('/', parse_url($url, PHP_URL_PATH), 5);
+			list(,/*$apps*/,/*$app*/,$id,$rel_path) = explode('/', egw_vfs::parse_url($url, PHP_URL_PATH), 5);
 			if ($id && !isset($rel_path))
 			{
 				$ret = array(
@@ -230,8 +230,8 @@ class links_stream_wrapper extends links_stream_wrapper_parent
 
 		if($path[0] != '/')
 		{
-			if (strpos($path,'?') !== false) $query = parse_url($path,PHP_URL_QUERY);
-			$path = parse_url($path,PHP_URL_PATH).($query ? '?'.$query : '');
+			if (strpos($path,'?') !== false) $query = egw_vfs::parse_url($path,PHP_URL_QUERY);
+			$path = egw_vfs::parse_url($path,PHP_URL_PATH).($query ? '?'.$query : '');
 		}
 		list(,$apps,$app,$id) = explode('/',$path);
 
diff --git a/phpgwapi/inc/class.sqlfs_stream_wrapper.inc.php b/phpgwapi/inc/class.sqlfs_stream_wrapper.inc.php
index ecb9118e70..49f4819949 100644
--- a/phpgwapi/inc/class.sqlfs_stream_wrapper.inc.php
+++ b/phpgwapi/inc/class.sqlfs_stream_wrapper.inc.php
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ class sqlfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	{
 		if (self::LOG_LEVEL > 1) error_log(__METHOD__."($url,$mode,$options)");
 
-		$path = parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
+		$path = egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
 		$this->operation = self::url2operation($url);
 		$dir = egw_vfs::dirname($url);
 
@@ -542,7 +542,7 @@ class sqlfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	{
 		if (self::LOG_LEVEL > 1) error_log(__METHOD__."($url)");
 
-		$path = parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
+		$path = egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
 
 		if (!($stat = self::url_stat($path,STREAM_URL_STAT_LINK)) || !egw_vfs::check_access(egw_vfs::dirname($path),egw_vfs::WRITABLE, $parent_stat))
 		{
@@ -590,9 +590,9 @@ class sqlfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	{
 		if (self::LOG_LEVEL > 1) error_log(__METHOD__."($url_from,$url_to)");
 
-		$path_from = parse_url($url_from,PHP_URL_PATH);
+		$path_from = egw_vfs::parse_url($url_from,PHP_URL_PATH);
 		$from_dir = egw_vfs::dirname($path_from);
-		$path_to = parse_url($url_to,PHP_URL_PATH);
+		$path_to = egw_vfs::parse_url($url_to,PHP_URL_PATH);
 		$to_dir = egw_vfs::dirname($path_to);
 		$operation = self::url2operation($url_from);
 
@@ -684,7 +684,7 @@ class sqlfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	{
 		if (self::LOG_LEVEL > 1) error_log(__METHOD__."($url,$mode,$options)");
 		if (self::LOG_LEVEL > 1) error_log(__METHOD__." called from:".function_backtrace());
-		$path = parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
+		$path = egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
 
 		if (self::url_stat($path,STREAM_URL_STAT_QUIET))
 		{
@@ -698,7 +698,7 @@ class sqlfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 			return false;
 		}
 		$parent_path = egw_vfs::dirname($path);
-		if (($query = parse_url($url,PHP_URL_QUERY))) $parent_path .= '?'.$query;
+		if (($query = egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_QUERY))) $parent_path .= '?'.$query;
 		$parent = self::url_stat($parent_path,STREAM_URL_STAT_QUIET);
 
 		// check if we should also create all non-existing path components and our parent does not exist,
@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ class sqlfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	{
 		if (self::LOG_LEVEL > 1) error_log(__METHOD__."($url)");
 
-		$path = parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
+		$path = egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
 		$parent = egw_vfs::dirname($path);
 
 		if (!($stat = self::url_stat($path,0)) || $stat['mime'] != self::DIR_MIME_TYPE ||
@@ -826,7 +826,7 @@ class sqlfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 		unset($atime);	// not used
 		if (self::LOG_LEVEL > 1) error_log(__METHOD__."($url, $time)");
 
-		$path = parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
+		$path = egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
 
 		if (!($stat = self::url_stat($path,STREAM_URL_STAT_QUIET)))
 		{
@@ -862,7 +862,7 @@ class sqlfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	{
 		if (self::LOG_LEVEL > 1) error_log(__METHOD__."($url,$owner)");
 
-		$path = parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
+		$path = egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
 
 		if (!($stat = self::url_stat($path,0)))
 		{
@@ -902,7 +902,7 @@ class sqlfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	{
 		if (self::LOG_LEVEL > 1) error_log(__METHOD__."($url,$owner)");
 
-		$path = parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
+		$path = egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
 
 		if (!($stat = self::url_stat($path,0)))
 		{
@@ -943,7 +943,7 @@ class sqlfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	{
 		if (self::LOG_LEVEL > 1) error_log(__METHOD__."($url, $mode)");
 
-		$path = parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
+		$path = egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
 
 		if (!($stat = self::url_stat($path,0)))
 		{
@@ -983,7 +983,7 @@ class sqlfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	{
 		$this->opened_dir = null;
 
-		$path = parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
+		$path = egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
 
 		if (!($stat = self::url_stat($url,0)) || 		// dir not found
 			$stat['mime'] != self::DIR_MIME_TYPE ||		// no dir
@@ -1055,7 +1055,7 @@ class sqlfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 		}
 		if (self::LOG_LEVEL > 1) error_log(__METHOD__."('$url',$flags,$eacl_access)");
 
-		$path = parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
+		$path = egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
 
 		// webdav adds a trailing slash to dirs, which causes url_stat to NOT find the file otherwise
 		if ($path != '/' && substr($path,-1) == '/')
@@ -1279,7 +1279,7 @@ class sqlfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 			') VALUES (:fs_name,:fs_dir,:fs_mode,:fs_uid,:fs_gid,:fs_created,:fs_modified,:fs_creator,:fs_mime,:fs_size,:fs_link)';
 		if (self::LOG_LEVEL > 2) $query = '/* '.__METHOD__.': '.__LINE__.' */ '.$query;
 		$stmt = self::$pdo->prepare($query);
-		unset(self::$stat_cache[parse_url($link,PHP_URL_PATH)]);
+		unset(self::$stat_cache[egw_vfs::parse_url($link,PHP_URL_PATH)]);
 
 		return !!$stmt->execute(array(
 			'fs_name' => egw_vfs::basename($link),
@@ -1310,7 +1310,7 @@ class sqlfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	 */
 	static function check_extended_acl($url,$check)
 	{
-		$url_path = parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
+		$url_path = egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH);
 
 		if (is_null(self::$extended_acl))
 		{
@@ -1380,7 +1380,7 @@ class sqlfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	{
 		if ($path[0] != '/')
 		{
-			$path = parse_url($path,PHP_URL_PATH);
+			$path = egw_vfs::parse_url($path,PHP_URL_PATH);
 		}
 		if (is_null($fs_id))
 		{
@@ -1731,7 +1731,7 @@ class sqlfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	 */
 	static protected function _remove_password(&$url)
 	{
-		$parts = parse_url($url);
+		$parts = egw_vfs::parse_url($url);
 
 		if ($parts['pass'] || $parts['scheme'])
 		{
@@ -1753,7 +1753,7 @@ class sqlfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 		if (strpos(is_array($url) ? $url['query'] : $url,'storage=') !== false)
 		{
 			$query = null;
-			parse_str(is_array($url) ? $url['query'] : parse_url($url,PHP_URL_QUERY), $query);
+			parse_str(is_array($url) ? $url['query'] : egw_vfs::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_QUERY), $query);
 			switch ($query['storage'])
 			{
 				case 'db':
diff --git a/phpgwapi/inc/class.vfs_stream_wrapper.inc.php b/phpgwapi/inc/class.vfs_stream_wrapper.inc.php
index 4328424c1c..b0c886a72b 100644
--- a/phpgwapi/inc/class.vfs_stream_wrapper.inc.php
+++ b/phpgwapi/inc/class.vfs_stream_wrapper.inc.php
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
  * @package api
  * @subpackage vfs
  * @author Ralf Becker <RalfBecker-AT-outdoor-training.de>
- * @copyright (c) 2008-10 by Ralf Becker <RalfBecker-AT-outdoor-training.de>
+ * @copyright (c) 2008-14 by Ralf Becker <RalfBecker-AT-outdoor-training.de>
  * @version $Id$
  */
 
@@ -159,9 +159,9 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 			$url = $stat['url'];
 		}
 		// if the url resolves to a symlink to the vfs, resolve this vfs:// url direct
-		if ($url && parse_url($url,PHP_URL_SCHEME) == self::SCHEME)
+		if ($url && self::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_SCHEME) == self::SCHEME)
 		{
-			$url = self::resolve_url(parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH));
+			$url = self::resolve_url(self::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH));
 		}
 		if (self::LOG_LEVEL > 1) error_log(__METHOD__."($path,file_exists=$file_exists,resolve_last_symlink=$resolve_last_symlink) = '$url'$log");
 		return $url;
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 				'home' => str_replace(array('\\\\','\\'),array('','/'),$GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['homedirectory']),
 			);
 		}
-		$parts = array_merge(parse_url($path),$defaults);
+		$parts = array_merge(self::parse_url($path),$defaults);
 		if (!$parts['host']) $parts['host'] = 'default';	// otherwise we get an invalid url (scheme:///path/to/something)!
 
 		if (!empty($parts['scheme']) && $parts['scheme'] != self::SCHEME)
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 		{
 			if ($mounted == '/' || $mounted == $parts['path'] || $mounted.'/' == substr($parts['path'],0,strlen($mounted)+1))
 			{
-				$scheme = parse_url($url,PHP_URL_SCHEME);
+				$scheme = self::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_SCHEME);
 				if (is_null(self::$wrappers) || !in_array($scheme,self::$wrappers))
 				{
 					self::load_wrapper($scheme);
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 			return false;
 		}
 		$this->opened_stream_mode = $mode;
-		$this->opened_stream_path = $path[0] == '/' ? $path : parse_url($path, PHP_URL_PATH);
+		$this->opened_stream_path = $path[0] == '/' ? $path : self::parse_url($path, PHP_URL_PATH);
 		$this->opened_stream_url = $url;
 		$this->opened_stream_is_new = !$stat;
 
@@ -470,7 +470,7 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 		{
 			$GLOBALS['egw']->hooks->process(array(
 				'location' => 'vfs_unlink',
-				'path' => $path[0] == '/' ? $path : parse_url($path, PHP_URL_PATH),
+				'path' => $path[0] == '/' ? $path : self::parse_url($path, PHP_URL_PATH),
 				'url'  => $url,
 				'stat' => $stat,
 			),'',true);
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 			return false;
 		}
 		// if file is moved from one filesystem / wrapper to an other --> copy it (rename fails cross wrappers)
-		if (parse_url($url_from,PHP_URL_SCHEME) == parse_url($url_to,PHP_URL_SCHEME))
+		if (self::parse_url($url_from,PHP_URL_SCHEME) == self::parse_url($url_to,PHP_URL_SCHEME))
 		{
 			self::symlinkCache_remove($path_from);
 			$ret = rename($url_from,$url_to);
@@ -523,8 +523,8 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 		{
 			$GLOBALS['egw']->hooks->process(array(
 				'location' => 'vfs_rename',
-				'from' => $path_from[0] == '/' ? $path_from : parse_url($path_from, PHP_URL_PATH),
-				'to' => $path_to[0] == '/' ? $path_to : parse_url($path_to, PHP_URL_PATH),
+				'from' => $path_from[0] == '/' ? $path_from : self::parse_url($path_from, PHP_URL_PATH),
+				'to' => $path_to[0] == '/' ? $path_to : self::parse_url($path_to, PHP_URL_PATH),
 				'url_from' => $url_from,
 				'url_to' => $url_to,
 			),'',true);
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 		{
 			$GLOBALS['egw']->hooks->process(array(
 				'location' => 'vfs_mkdir',
-				'path' => $path[0] == '/' ? $path : parse_url($path, PHP_URL_PATH),
+				'path' => $path[0] == '/' ? $path : self::parse_url($path, PHP_URL_PATH),
 				'url' => $url,
 			),'',true);
 		}
@@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 		{
 			$GLOBALS['egw']->hooks->process(array(
 				'location' => 'vfs_rmdir',
-				'path' => $path[0] == '/' ? $path : parse_url($path, PHP_URL_PATH),
+				'path' => $path[0] == '/' ? $path : self::parse_url($path, PHP_URL_PATH),
 				'url' => $url,
 				'stat' => $stat,
 			),'',true);
@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 			{
 				return false;
 			}
-			$k=(string)parse_url($url,PHP_URL_SCHEME);
+			$k=(string)self::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_SCHEME);
 			if (!(is_array($scheme2urls[$k]))) $scheme2urls[$k] = array();
 			$scheme2urls[$k][$path] = $url;
 		}
@@ -648,7 +648,7 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 				// we need to re-translate the urls to pathes, as they can eg. contain symlinks
 				foreach($urls as $path => $url)
 				{
-					if (isset($r[$url]) || isset($r[$url=parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH)]))
+					if (isset($r[$url]) || isset($r[$url=self::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH)]))
 					{
 						$ret[$path] = $r[$url];
 					}
@@ -774,7 +774,7 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 		{
 			return false;
 		}
-		if (($scheme = parse_url($url,PHP_URL_SCHEME)) && !$recheck)
+		if (($scheme = self::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_SCHEME)) && !$recheck)
 		{
 			// check it it's an eGW stream wrapper returning mime-type via url_stat
 			// we need to first check if the constant is defined, as we get a fatal error in php5.3 otherwise
@@ -782,7 +782,7 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 				defined($class.'::STAT_RETURN_MIME_TYPE') &&
 				($mime_attr = constant($class.'::STAT_RETURN_MIME_TYPE')))
 			{
-				$stat = call_user_func(array($class,'url_stat'),parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH),0);
+				$stat = call_user_func(array($class,'url_stat'),self::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH),0);
 				if ($stat && $stat[$mime_attr])
 				{
 					$mime = $stat[$mime_attr];
@@ -801,7 +801,7 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 		// using EGw's own mime magic (currently only checking the extension!)
 		if (!$mime)
 		{
-			$mime = mime_magic::filename2mime(parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH));
+			$mime = mime_magic::filename2mime(self::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH));
 		}
 		//error_log(__METHOD__."($path,$recheck) mime=$mime");
 		return $mime;
@@ -830,7 +830,7 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 		}
 		$this->opened_dir_writable = egw_vfs::check_access($this->opened_dir_url,egw_vfs::WRITABLE);
 		// check our fstab if we need to add some of the mountpoints
-		$basepath = parse_url($path,PHP_URL_PATH);
+		$basepath = self::parse_url($path,PHP_URL_PATH);
 		foreach(self::$fstab as $mounted => $url)
 		{
 			if (((egw_vfs::dirname($mounted) == $basepath || egw_vfs::dirname($mounted).'/' == $basepath) && $mounted != '/') &&
@@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 					{
 						if ($lpath[0] != '/')	// concat relative path
 						{
-							$lpath = egw_vfs::concat(parse_url($path,PHP_URL_PATH),'../'.$lpath);
+							$lpath = egw_vfs::concat(self::parse_url($path,PHP_URL_PATH),'../'.$lpath);
 						}
 						$url = egw_vfs::PREFIX.$lpath;
 						if (self::LOG_LEVEL > 1) error_log(__METHOD__."($path,$flags) symlif (substr($path,-1) == '/' && $path != '/') $path = substr($path,0,-1);	// remove trailing slash eg. added by WebDAVink found and resolved to $url");
@@ -929,7 +929,7 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 			throw $e;
 		}
 		// check if a failed url_stat was for a home dir, in that case silently create it
-		if (!$stat && $try_create_home && egw_vfs::dirname(parse_url($path,PHP_URL_PATH)) == '/home' &&
+		if (!$stat && $try_create_home && egw_vfs::dirname(self::parse_url($path,PHP_URL_PATH)) == '/home' &&
 			($id = $GLOBALS['egw']->accounts->name2id(basename($path))) &&
 			$GLOBALS['egw']->accounts->id2name($id) == basename($path))	// make sure path has the right case!
 		{
@@ -994,7 +994,7 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 
 					if ($lpath[0] != '/')
 					{
-						$lpath = egw_vfs::concat(parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH),'../'.$lpath);
+						$lpath = egw_vfs::concat(self::parse_url($url,PHP_URL_PATH),'../'.$lpath);
 					}
 					//self::symlinkCache_add($path,egw_vfs::PREFIX.$lpath);
 					$url = egw_vfs::PREFIX.egw_vfs::concat($lpath,$rel_path);
@@ -1029,7 +1029,7 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 
 		if (isset(self::$symlink_cache[$path])) return;	// nothing to do
 
-		if ($target[0] != '/') $target = parse_url($target,PHP_URL_PATH);
+		if ($target[0] != '/') $target = self::parse_url($target,PHP_URL_PATH);
 
 		self::$symlink_cache[$path] = $target;
 
@@ -1229,26 +1229,78 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 		return str_replace('.','_',$scheme).'_stream_wrapper';
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Utf-8 save version of parse_url
+	 *
+	 * Does caching withing request, to not have to parse urls over and over again.
+	 *
+	 * @param string $url
+	 * @param int $component =-1 PHP_URL_* constants
+	 * @return array|string|boolean on success array or string, if $component given, or false on failure
+	 */
+	static function parse_url($url, $component=-1)
+	{
+		static $component2str = array(
+			PHP_URL_SCHEME => 'scheme',
+			PHP_URL_HOST => 'host',
+			PHP_URL_PORT => 'port',
+			PHP_URL_USER => 'user',
+			PHP_URL_PASS => 'pass',
+			PHP_URL_PATH => 'path',
+			PHP_URL_QUERY => 'query',
+			PHP_URL_FRAGMENT => 'fragment',
+		);
+		static $cache = array();	// some caching
+
+		$result =& $cache[$url];
+
+		if (!isset($result))
+		{
+			// Build arrays of values we need to decode before parsing
+			static $entities = array('%21', '%2A', '%27', '%28', '%29', '%3B', '%3A', '%40', '%26', '%3D', '%24', '%2C', '%2F', '%3F', '%23', '%5B', '%5D');
+			static $replacements = array('!', '*', "'", "(", ")", ";", ":", "@", "&", "=", "$", ",", "/", "?", "#", "[", "]");
+			static $str_replace = null;
+			if (!isset($str_replace)) $str_replace = function_exists('mb_str_replace') ? 'mb_str_replace' : 'str_replace';
+
+			// Create encoded URL with special URL characters decoded so it can be parsed
+			// All other characters will be encoded
+			$encodedURL = $str_replace($entities, $replacements, urlencode($url));
+
+			// Parse the encoded URL
+			$result = $encodedParts = parse_url($encodedURL);
+
+			// Now, decode each value of the resulting array
+			if ($encodedParts)
+			{
+				$result = array();
+				foreach ($encodedParts as $key => $value)
+				{
+					$result[$key] = urldecode($str_replace($replacements, $entities, $value));
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		return $component >= 0 ? $result[$component2str[$component]] : $result;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Getting the path from an url (or path) AND removing trailing slashes
 	 *
 	 * @param string $path url or path (might contain trailing slash from WebDAV!)
-	 * @param string $only_remove_scheme=self::SCHEME if given only that scheme get's removed
+	 * @param string $only_remove_scheme =self::SCHEME if given only that scheme get's removed
 	 * @return string path without training slash
 	 */
 	static protected function get_path($path,$only_remove_scheme=self::SCHEME)
 	{
-		$url_parts = parse_url($path);
-		if ($path[0] != '/' && (!$only_remove_scheme || $url_parts['scheme'] == $only_remove_scheme))
+		if ($path[0] != '/' && (!$only_remove_scheme || self::parse_url($path, PHP_URL_SCHEME) == $only_remove_scheme))
 		{
-			$path = $url_parts['path'];
+			$path = self::parse_url($path, PHP_URL_PATH);
 		}
 		// remove trailing slashes eg. added by WebDAV
-		if ($url_parts['path'] != '/')
+		if ($path != '/')
 		{
-			while (substr($path,-1) == '/' && $path != '/')
+			while (mb_substr($path, -1) == '/' && $path != '/')
 			{
-				$path = substr($path,0,-1);
+				$path = mb_substr($path,0,-1);
 			}
 		}
 		return $path;