Only a small majority of the European Parliament supported the report by Maria Noichl (S&D, German) calling for the purchase of sexual services to be criminalised. The text, put to the vote at the plenary session in Strasbourg on Thursday 14 September, received 234 votes in favour, 175 against and 122 abstentions.
While it advocates effective programmes for exiting prostitution, the decriminalisation of workers and awareness-raising campaigns, it is one particular measure that has divided MEPs: criminalising clients in order to reduce demand (see EUROPE 13210/24). This is not a point on which everyone agrees, even within the political groups.
Fragmented Chamber
During the previous day’s debate, Karen Melchior (Renew Europe, Danish) deplored the unbalanced text which “removes the right for adult people […] to decide about their own body”. While 50 members of her party followed her in opposing the report, 34 supported it or abstained.
Similarly, although Sandra Pereira (The Left, Portuguese) shares the rapporteur’s position, her group’s votes are not uniform. Several party presidents had decided not to give voting instructions, as the subject was controversial.
Finally, the report was widely supported by S&D and EPP MEPs. On the contrary, a majority of the Greens/EFA, ID and ECR opposed it or abstained.
Free will versus exploitation
These differences are rooted in the way sex work is viewed. For some, it may be the result of a choice on the part of the person doing the work, while for others (like the rapporteur) it is synonymous with exploitation and trafficking in human beings (see EUROPE 13246/15).
Without explicitly commenting on the report, Commissioner for Values Věra Jourová pointed out that the EU has legislative instruments to combat human trafficking, the sexual exploitation of children and (if the directive is adopted) violence against women.
Text adopted: https://aeur.eu/f/8k3 (Original version in French by Hélène Seynaeve)