The European Parliament's Legal Affairs (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 advocating for better implementation of existing tools. EPP rapporteur Axel Voss argued that the directive needs to be strengthened to combat counterfeiting effectively, particularly through enhanced cross-border mechanisms. In contrast, S&D's Tiemo Wölken pushed back, asserting that the directive already provides sufficient tools and that the focus should shift to better implementation and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Renew Europe's Stéphanie Yon-Courtin questioned whether the directive adequately addresses digital enforcement challenges, especially regarding online platforms, while Greens-EFA MEP Heidi Hautala stressed the need for proportionality and safeguards to prevent abuse of intellectual property rights. European Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty Henna Virkkunen noted that an ongoing evaluation 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 tensions between rightsholders seeking stronger enforcement and SMEs concerned about compliance costs, while online platforms and national enforcement authorities face potential new obligations depending on the outcome.