Smith said: "Narrowing the copyright gap with the USA and other territories is an essential move for Europe to capitalise on its world-leading position in creating music.

She added that those most affected by the extension will be hundreds of thousands of individual artists and performers, as well as thousands of micro, small and medium-sized music companies.

"They produce so much of the innovative and diverse music released in Europe today. At a time when certain interests seek to weaken ...