European trade unions and industry groups from TV, film and radio have joined Bono, Lily Allen and other big-name artists in calling for wider legal crackdowns on internet piracy.

Workers' representatives and trade groups from across Europe have formed a coalition to urge the European Union to formally adopt a strong stance against illegal filesharing and to put more pressure on internet service providers (ISPs) to help curb piracy.

The calls follow headline-grabbing plans from the UK government to curb copyright infringement, including sending warning letters to persistent unlawful filesharers. Under the proposals, if piracy is not reduced by 70%, the government will introduce a series of "technical measures" that could include suspending a pirate's broadband connection. The plans have drawn intense criticism from ISPs and consumer groups but support from musicians, including Allen, who collated the views of various artists in a controversial blog last autumn.

The European Audiovisual Social Dialogue Committee is now calling for "improvements to the legal framework" throughout the EU to encourage producers, broadcasters and content creators to provide more lawful online services.

"The unauthorised filesharing of protected works and performances – as well as the need for all right holders to derive tangible benefits from the exploitation of their work – are important issues that need to be better recognised by the European commission and other EU institutions," the committee – whose members include the Association of Commercial Television in Europe, the International Federation of Film Producers Associations and the European Federation of Journalists – said in a joint statement.

The committee wants the internal markets commissioner to "ensure that all member states have the necessary infrastructure to effectively enforce copyright protection laws and ensure all ISPs work to prevent illegal P2P filesharing and other IP infringements through their services."

The commission is also being asked to carry out research into the economic effects of online piracy, including possible job losses and lost revenues, and to consider introducing or reviewing EU legislation to protect copyright holders.

The UK grouping of entertainment industry trade unions, called the Creative Coalition Campaign, backed the Europe-wide calls.

"Although the UK is taking a lead with the proposals outlined in the digital economy bill, unfortunately, other EU countries are lagging behind, putting the whole of the EU's creative sector at serious risk," Christine Payne, general secretary of Equity and chair of the Creative Coalition Campaign, said.

But the demands are likely to face strong opposition from ISPs. The UK plans have already been strongly condemned by TalkTalk as draconian and unlikely to work.

Last week the broadband company, part of Charles Dunstone's Carphone Warehouse business, criticised comments by Bono, the U2 frontman, questioning ISPs' claims that they cannot always know the nature of internet traffic.

Bono cited "America's noble effort to stop child pornography" as proof to the contrary, but Andrew Heaney, TalkTalk's executive director of strategy and regulation, said: "It is outrageous to equate the need to protect minors from the evils of child pornography with the need to protect copyright owners.

"Bono obviously does not understand how simple it is to access copyright-protected content without being detected. P2P filesharing can be spotted (albeit at great cost) but there are dozens of applications and tools out there which allow people to view content for free and no amount of snooping can detect it."