The European Parliament has adopted a non-legislative report on enforcement of intellectual property rights, calling for tougher application of intellectual rights and copyright harmonisation at the EU level. Meanwhile, civil liberties activists warn that such moves would undermine fundamental freedoms in the bloc.

“Online piracy is an infringement of copyright and causes serious economic damage to artists, to creative industries and to all those whose jobs depend on these industries,” Marielle Gallo, a French conservative MEP and author of the report said after 328 MEPs voted in favour of the proposal and 245 against.

The report asks the European Commission to propose a “comprehensive strategy” on intellectual property rights “which will remove obstacles to creating a single market in the online environment” and adopt an European legislative framework in the field.

In the resolution, MEPs also said that they do not agree with the commission’s view that the current civil enforcement framework in the EU is sufficiently effective and harmonised. They asked the EU executive to “address urgently” the issue of multi-territory licences and the harmonisation of legislation on copyright, which, they believe, should improve access to digital markets by overcoming geographical borders.

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