For the ECR Group, today’s agreement between Parliament and Council negotiators on new EU rules against child sexual abuse is an important step towards stronger protection for children and better access to justice for victims.

The deal updates the Directive on the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children, covering abuse committed offline, online, across borders and through new technologies. Member States will also be required to provide for stronger penalties for child sexual abuse offences, while sentencing will remain a matter for national courts. Assita Kanko, ECR Shadow Rapporteur in the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, said: “In the EU, an estimated one in 15 children are victims of sexual abuse. This is completely unacceptable. Every victim is one too many. Today, we are emphasising this with an EU agreement on protecting children from child abusers.”

“Unfortunately, child abusers are innovative. They are highly active online and internationally. This new law makes it a crime across Europe to disseminate artificial intelligence programmes used to create child abuse material. Travelling to other countries with the intent to abuse children will also be punishable throughout the EU.”

Under the deal, the limitation period for the most serious child sexual abuse crimes will be 32 years, starting only once the victim has reached the age of 18. The Directive will also provide for clearer definitions of offences and new tools to address modern forms of abuse.

“With stricter penalties, longer limitation periods, and clearer definitions, Europe is taking action. Children are finally receiving the protection they are entitled to,” Kanko said.

Kanko continued:

“We have found a good balance between respecting the criminal law systems of the Member States and improving the legal protection of child abuse victims. Our children deserve this!”

The Directive is expected to be adopted in a final vote in September. Once formally adopted, Member States will have three years to transpose the new rules into national law.