The European Parliament's legal affairs committee (JURI) on 22 June 2026 debated a study on countering online piracy of sports and broadcast content, with the study's author urging a binding EU regulation to replace the current non-binding 2023 Commission recommendation. Professor Giovanni Maria Riccio (University of Salerno) argued that live-event piracy is highly professionalised and national enforcement fragmented, calling for a specific notice-and-takedown system alongside dynamic injunctions, while cautioning against over-reliance on liability.
Axel Voss (EPP) questioned whether new legislation is needed at all and raised the issue of VPN provider liability. Maravillas Abadía Jover (EPP) asked whether the priority should be implementing existing rules or extending liability. Dainius Žalimas (Renew) asked whether cooperation among member states suffices or EU legislation is required. Arash Saeidi (The Left) stressed the importance of affordability and legal offer accessibility as part of the solution.
The committee also debated a technical alignment of Regulation (EU) 2019/1753 following WIPO rule changes, presented by Žalimas as a non-controversial technical update needed before 1 July 2026. Marion Walsmann (EPP) and Luca Cianfoni (DG AGRI) supported rapid adoption.
Consensus emerged on the seriousness of piracy, fragmentation of enforcement, and the need for both stronger enforcement and improved legal offers. The amendments deadline was set for 23 June at 05:00, tabled only in English.
A binding EU regulation would impose new compliance costs on online platforms and ISPs, potentially increasing costs for consumers, but would strengthen enforcement for rights holders. National authorities would face harmonised rules, reducing fragmentation. The debate reflects a trade-off between stronger enforcement and the risk of over-regulation that could stifle innovation or limit access to legal content.