The European Parliament's JURI Committee held a workshop on 3 June 2026 to evaluate the Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive (2004/48/EC), revealing a split between those calling for stronger cross-border enforcement and those urging better implementation of existing rules. EPP rapporteur Axel Voss argued that the directive needs stronger cross-border enforcement mechanisms to combat counterfeiting effectively, while S&D's Tiemo Wölken pushed back, stating that the directive already provides sufficient tools and that the focus should be on better implementation and support for SMEs. Renew Europe's Stéphanie Yon-Courtin questioned whether the directive adequately addresses digital enforcement challenges, particularly regarding online platforms. Greens-EFA MEP Heidi Hautala stressed the need for proportionality and safeguards to prevent abuse of IP rights. European Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty Henna Virkkunen noted that an evaluation is ongoing and will inform any future legislative proposals. The workshop also covered EFRAG's 2026 work programme, where MEPs welcomed the focus on sustainability reporting but raised concerns about the administrative burden on smaller companies. No formal decisions were taken; the workshop served as input for the committee's own-initiative report.
The debate highlights a cleavage between rightsholders seeking stronger enforcement and SMEs concerned about compliance costs, with online platforms and national enforcement authorities also affected. A stronger directive could reduce counterfeiting but increase costs for SMEs and platforms; a lighter approach would ease burdens but may leave enforcement gaps.