Without consent, it is rape

The EPP Group wants to unify rape legislation across Europe based on consent and welcomes today’s vote in the European Parliament as a strong political call for concrete legislative proposals to follow without delay.

"Parliament has spoken clearly. Women across Europe deserve equal protection, and the EU must now respond with legislation that delivers justice and legal certainty," said Verena Mertens MEP, who negotiated Parliament’s resolution on behalf of the EPP Group in the Civil Liberties Committee.

"We need a clear and comparable definition of rape across the European Union, based on freely given consent," Mertens said. "Sexual acts without freely given consent must be punishable, and lack of resistance must never be interpreted as consent."

She underlined that common European rules are essential to guarantee effective prosecution, equal protection for victims and trust in the rule of law across the Union. "We need a legally sound, practical and comparable EU-wide definition of rape so that crimes are effectively prosecuted and perpetrators are held accountable," she added. 

The EPP Group believes that women’s safety, dignity, or access to justice must not depend on national borders. Today, rape laws still differ widely across Member States, with some national systems continuing to require proof of violence or threat. This legal fragmentation creates uncertainty, weakens enforcement and leaves victims without the same level of protection across Europe. 

Arba Kokalari MEP, EPP negotiator in the Women’s Rights Committee, stressed the urgency of action: "A woman’s protection against rape should not depend on which EU country she lives in. Sexual violence does not respect borders, and Europe needs to step up for victims of rape." She added: "Every third woman in Europe has experienced physical or sexual violence and it’s clear that we need an EU-wide definition on rape based on consent. With today’s vote, we are one step closer to that."