Remarks by Mr Axel Voss , Member of the European Parliament, at the Opening of the 2026 EUIPO Observatory Plenary Meeting

Remarks by Mr Axel Voss , Member of the European Parliament, at the Opening of the 2026 EUIPO Observatory Plenary Meeting

Mr Axel Voss, Member of the European Parliament, delivered opening remarks online on the first day of the Plenary Meeting of the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, part of EUIPO, on 15 September 2026.

The event takes place on 15–16 September 2026 in Alicante, Spain, bringing together representatives of European institutions, national authorities, the private sector, civil society and international organisations to exchange views and experience on intellectual property and the Observatory’s work.

InfoCons, an active member of the EUIPO Observatory, is represented at the meeting by its President, Mr Sorin Mierlea, contributing to the representation of consumers’ interests in discussions on public awareness and respect for intellectual property rights.

Who is Axel Voss?

Axel Voss is a Member of the European Parliament from Germany, first elected in 2009, and belongs to the Group of the European People’s Party. A lawyer by training, he studied law with a focus on European and international law and has practised as an attorney.

Before entering the European Parliament, he worked in citizens’ advice at the European Commission’s Representation in Germany and taught European affairs at RheinAhrCampus Remagen. His parliamentary career includes work on the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. 

What is the European Parliament?

The European Parliament is the European Union institution directly elected by citizens every five years, with legislative, budgetary and democratic scrutiny responsibilities. Together with the Council of the European Union, it adopts European legislation based on proposals from the European Commission.

Parliament helps establish the EU budget, scrutinises the work of other institutions and examines citizens’ petitions. Through its committees and plenary debates, it considers initiatives affecting everyday life, including those concerning the internal market, consumer protection and intellectual property.