On Wednesday 25 February, the European Parliament’s Committees on Civil Liberties (LIBE) and Women’s Rights (FEMM) adopted a draft report calling for European consent-based rape legislation, to thunderous applause, despite the open rejection of the ECR and PfE groups. The text was approved by 75 votes to 27 with three abstentions, and all compromise amendments were adopted.
The report, submitted by Evin Incir (S&D, Swedish) and Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus (S&D, Polish), calls on the European Commission to propose legislation establishing an EU-wide definition of rape that is based on the requirement of “freely given, informed and reversible consent”.
MEPs argue that national legislation still based on force or violence should be aligned with international standards, in particular the Istanbul Convention, which the EU ratified in 2023.
The text stresses that only a harmonised definition can guarantee effective access to justice and improve reporting and conviction rates, and thus seeks to supplement the 2024 directive on combating gender-based and domestic violence (see EUROPE 13344/24).
It also reiterates Parliament’s call for gender-based violence to be included among the “Eurocrimes” referred to in Article 83(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
The MEPs also support an ‘intersectional approach’ centred on victims. Full access to medical care, including sexual and reproductive health care, psychological and legal support, 24-hour crisis centres and longer statutes of limitations are also deemed necessary.
In addition, the report calls for more training for the police, the judiciary and health professionals in order to prevent ‘secondary victimisation’, as well as cooperation with European agencies such as the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) and the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA).
Evin Incir described it as “unacceptable that in 2026” some women will not be protected by legislation based on consent, arguing that “yes means yes” must apply across the EU. Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus stated that “the political will [was] there” and called on the Commission to act.
The report is due to be put to the plenary vote at the Brussels session on 25 and 26 March.
To see the report: https://aeur.eu/f/kx5; the compromise amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/kx4 (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)