Sittings · Compare
What changed
DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA (recast)
(COM(2024)0060 – C90028/2024C100028/2024 – 2024/0035(COD))
(Ordinary legislative procedure – recast)
– having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 82(2) and Article 83(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C90028/2024),
– having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs on the proposed legal basis,
– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
– having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 28 November 2001 on a more structured use of the recasting technique for legal acts,
– having regard to the letter of [...]27 sentNovember by2024 from the Committee on Legal Affairs to the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs in accordance with Rule 110(3)113(3) of its Rules of Procedure,
– having regard to the letter of [...] sent to its President by the Committee on Legal Affairs in accordanceRules with113 Ruleand 110(4)60 of its Rules of Procedure,
– having regard to the letter of [...] by which the Presidentopinion of the Commission states thatCommittee iton isWomen's notRights withdrawingand itsGender proposal,Equality,
– having regard to Rules 110,the 59letter andfrom 40the ofCommittee itson RulesCulture ofand Procedure,Education,
– having regard to the report of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (A90000/2024),(A10-0097/2025),
A. whereas, according to the Consultative Working Party of the legal services of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, the Commission proposal does not include any substantive amendments other than those identified as such in the proposal and whereas, as regards the codification of the unchanged provisions of the earlier acts together with those amendments, the proposal contains a straightforward codification of the existing texts, without any change in their substance;
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
Recital 9 a (new)
Or. en
Amendment 2
Proposal for a directive
Recital 1110
Or. en
Amendment 3
Proposal for a directive
Recital 1211
Or. en
Amendment 4
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2212
Or. en
Amendment 5
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
Recital 12 a (new)
Or. en
Amendment 6
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
Recital 12 b (new)
Or. en
Amendment 7
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3614
Or. en
Amendment 8
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4015
Or. en
Amendment 9
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4015 a (new)
Or. en
Amendment 10
Proposal for a directive
Recital 43 a (new)
Recital 20
Or. en
Amendment 11
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Recital 20 a (new)
Or. en
Amendment 12
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 8
Recital 22
Or. en
Amendment 13
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 9 – introductory part
Recital 23
Or. en
Amendment 14
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 8 – introductory part
Recital 23 a (new)
Or. en
Amendment 15
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 8 – point d a (new)
Recital 24
Or. en
Amendment 16
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a
Recital 25
Or. en
Amendment 17
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Recital 26
Or. en
Amendment 18
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – title
Recital 31
Or. en
Amendment 19
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Recital 34
Or. en
Amendment 20
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 6
Recital 34 a (new)
Or. en
Amendment 21
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point a
Recital 34 b (new)
Or. en
Amendment 22
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point j a (new)
Recital 35
Or. en
Amendment 23
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Recital 36
Or. en
Amendment 24
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – title
Recital 36 a (new)
Or. en
Amendment 25
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
Recital 37
Or. en
Amendment 26
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2
Recital 39
Or. en
Amendment 27
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 3
Recital 40
Or. en
Amendment 28
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Recital 42
Or. en
Amendment 29
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point a
Recital 43
Or. en
Amendment 30
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point b
Recital 43 a (new)
Or. en
Amendment 31
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point c
Recital 45
Or. en
Amendment 32
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 4
Recital 50
Or. en
Amendment 33
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 3
Recital 52
Or. en
Amendment 34
Proposal for a directive
Article 171 – paragraph 4 a (new)1
Or. en
Amendment 35
Proposal for a directive
Article 182 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Or. en
Amendment 36
Proposal for a directive
Article 182 – paragraph 21 a– (new)point 3 – point a
Or. en
Amendment 37
Proposal for a directive
Article 192 – paragraph 61 – point 3 – point b
Or. en
Amendment 38
Proposal for a directive
Article 192 – paragraph 61 a– (new)point 3 – point c
Or. en
Amendment 39
Proposal for a directive
Article 212 – paragraph 21 – point 3 – point d
Or. en
Amendment 40
Proposal for a directive
Article 232 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point ae
Or. en
Amendment 41
Proposal for a directive
Article 232 – paragraph 31 – point b4
Or. en
Amendment 42
Proposal for a directive
Article 232 – paragraph 31 – point c5 – introductory part
Or. en
Amendment 43
Proposal for a directive
Article 282 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a
Or. en
Amendment 44
Proposal for a directive
Article 282 – paragraph 21 – point 5 – point b
Or. en
Amendment 45
Proposal for a directive
Article 282 – paragraph 31 – point 8
Or. en
Amendment 46
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – title
Or. en
Amendment 47
Proposal for a directive
Article 283 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2 – point a1
Or. en
Amendment 48
Proposal for a directive
Article 283 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2 – point b
Or. en
Amendment 49
Proposal for a directive
Article 283 – paragraph 5 – point c3
Or. en
Amendment 50
Proposal for a directive
Article 283 – paragraph 5 – point c a (new)4
Or. en
Amendment 51
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – point a
Amendment 52
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – point b
Amendment 53
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – point c
Amendment 54
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 6
Amendment 55
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 7 – introductory part
Amendment 56
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 7 – point b a (new)
Amendment 57
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 8
Amendment 58
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 9 – introductory part
Amendment 59
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 9 – point a
Amendment 60
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 9 – point c
Amendment 61
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – title
Amendment 62
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Amendment 63
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Amendment 64
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Amendment 65
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Amendment 66
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 5
Amendment 67
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 6
Amendment 68
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 7
Amendment 69
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 7 a (new)
Amendment 70
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Amendment 71
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Amendment 72
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Amendment 73
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 5
Amendment 74
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 6
Amendment 75
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 76
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 77
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 8 – introductory part
Amendment 78
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 8 – point a
Amendment 79
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 8 – point b
Amendment 80
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 8 – point c
Amendment 81
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 8 – point d
Amendment 82
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 8 – point d a (new)
Amendment 83
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a
Amendment 84
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 85
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 86
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 87
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 88
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – title
Amendment 89
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Amendment 90
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Amendment 91
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 a (new)
Amendment 92
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 b (new)
Amendment 93
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Amendment 94
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Amendment 95
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Amendment 96
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Amendment 97
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Amendment 98
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 99
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 4
Amendment 100
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 101
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 102
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 6
Amendment 103
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point a
Amendment 104
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point h a (new)
Amendment 105
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point j a (new)
Amendment 106
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Amendment 107
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Amendment 108
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 3
Amendment 109
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – title
Amendment 110
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Amendment 111
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
Amendment 112
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2
Amendment 113
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 3
Amendment 114
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Amendment 115
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – title
Amendment 116
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 117
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 118
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point a
Amendment 119
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point b
Amendment 120
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point c
Amendment 121
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 3
Amendment 122
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 4
Amendment 123
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 a (new)
Amendment 124
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 2
Amendment 125
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 3
Amendment 126
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 4
Amendment 127
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Amendment 128
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 1
Amendment 129
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 130
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 2
Amendment 131
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 132
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 3
Amendment 133
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 6
Amendment 134
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Amendment 135
Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 1
Amendment 136
Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 137
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Amendment 138
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Amendment 139
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 140
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 3
Amendment 141
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 4
Amendment 142
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 7
Amendment 143
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 9 – introductory part
Amendment 144
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – title
Amendment 145
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 1
Amendment 146
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 3 – point a
Amendment 147
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 3 – point b
Amendment 148
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 3 – point c
Amendment 149
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 3 – point d
Amendment 150
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 3 – point f
Amendment 151
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 4
Amendment 152
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 5 – point b
Amendment 153
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 6
Amendment 154
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 7
Amendment 155
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 2
Amendment 156
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 3
Amendment 157
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 3 – point a
Amendment 158
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 3 – point b
Amendment 159
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 3 – point c
Amendment 160
Proposal for a directive
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Amendment 161
Proposal for a directive
Article 24 – paragraph 2
Amendment 162
Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 1
Amendment 163
Proposal for a directive
Article 25 a (new)
Amendment 164
Proposal for a directive
Article 26
Amendment 165
Proposal for a directive
Article 27 – paragraph 1
Amendment 166
Proposal for a directive
Article 27 – paragraph 2
Amendment 167
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 1
Amendment 168
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 169
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 2
Amendment 170
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 3
Amendment 171
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 172
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2 – point a
Amendment 173
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2 – point b
Amendment 174
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2 – point c
Amendment 175
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2 – point c a (new)
Amendment 176
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 177
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 5 – introductory part
Amendment 178
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 5 – point c
Amendment 179
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 5 – point c a (new)
Amendment 180
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Amendment 181
Proposal for a directive
Article 29 – paragraph 5 – point b
Amendment 182
Proposal for a directive
Article 30 – paragraph 2
Amendment 183
Proposal for a directive
Article 31 – paragraph 1
Or. en
Amendment 184
Proposal for a directive
Article 31 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Amendment 185
Proposal for a directive
Article 31 – paragraph 2 – point b
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
In conclusion, the proposed amendments outlined in this draft report are crucial for bolstering the EU's efforts to prevent and combat child sexual abuse, safeguarding the rights and well-being of children across the Union.
ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT
Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the report, prior to the adoption thereof in committee:
The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.
ANNEX: LETTER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS
27.11.2024
Mr Javier Zarzalejos
Chair
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
BRUSSELS
Subject: Opinion on a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA (recast) (COM(2024)0060 – C90028/2024 – 2024/0035(COD))
Dear Mr Chair,
The Committee on Legal Affairs examined the proposal referred to above pursuant to Rule 113 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure, on recasting.
Paragraph 3 of that Rule reads as follows:
“If the committee responsible for legal affairs considers that the proposal does not entail any substantive changes other than those identified as such in the proposal, it shall inform the committee responsible for the subject matter thereof.
In such a case, over and above the conditions laid down in Rules 187 and 188, amendments shall be admissible within the committee responsible for the subject-matter only if they concern those parts of the proposal which contain changes.
However, amendments to parts of the proposal which remain unchanged may, by way of exception and on a case-by-case basis, be accepted by the Chair of the committee responsible for the subject matter if he or she considers that this is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text or because the amendments are inextricably linked to other admissible amendments. Such reasons must be stated in a written justification to the amendments.”
Following the here attached opinion of the Consultative Working Party of the Legal Services of the Parliament, the Council and the Commission, which has examined the recast proposal, and in keeping with the recommendations of the Rapporteur, the Committee on Legal Affairs considers that the proposal in question does not include any substantive changes other than those identified as such and that, as regards the codification of the unchanged provisions of the earlier act with those substantive amendments, the proposal contains a straightforward codification of the existing text, without any change in its substance.
In conclusion, at its meeting of 18 November 2024, the Committee on Legal Affairs unanimously decided to recommend that the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, as the committee responsible, continue with the examination of the above proposal in accordance with Rule 113.
Yours sincerely,
Ilhan Kyuchyuk
Encl.: Opinion of the Consultative Working Party
ANNEX: OPINION OF THE CONSULTATIVE WORKING PARTY OF THE LEGAL SERVICES OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMISSION
Brussels, 26 April 2024
OPINION
FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
THE COUNCIL
THE COMMISSION
Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA (recast)
COM(2024)0060 of 6.2.2024 – 2024/0035(COD)
Having regard to the Inter-institutional Agreement of 28 November 2001 on a more structured use of the recasting technique for legal acts, and in particular to point 9 thereof, the Consultative Working Party consisting of the respective legal services of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission met on 23 February 2024 for the purpose of examining the aforementioned proposal submitted by the Commission.
At that meeting, an examination of the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council recasting Directive 2011/93/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA resulted in the Consultative Working Party’s establishing, by common accord, that the following should have been marked with the grey-shaded type generally used for identifying substantive amendments:
- in recitals 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 39, 54, 56, 58 and 59, in Article 1 and in Articles 2(3), 5(2) to (6) and (9), 6(2), 16(2) and (5) and 30(1) and (2), the replacement of the word ‘pornography’ with the term ‘sexual abuse material’;
- in recitals 3 and 28, the deletion of the word ‘pornography’;
- in recital 9 and in Articles 2(5), and 4(2), (3) and (4), the replacement of the word ‘pornographic’ with the term ‘child sexual abuse’;
- in recital 20, the adding of the words ‘not be considered to be committed’;
- in recital 20 and in Article 10(2), the deletion of the word ‘pornographic’;
- in recital 43, the deletion of the word ‘Particular’ preceding the word ‘care’ in the third sentence of recital 34 of Directive 2011/93/EU;
- in Article 10(1) and (2), the deletion of the words ‘who are close in age and degree of psychological and physical development or maturity’;
- in Article 14(1), introductory wording, the replacement of the reference made to ‘Article 12(1)’ in Article 13(1), introductory wording, of Directive 2011/93/EU with a new reference to ‘Article 13’.
In consequence, examination of the proposal has enabled the Consultative Working Party to conclude, without dissent, that the proposal does not comprise any substantive amendments other than those identified as such. The Working Party also concluded, as regards the codification of the unchanged provisions of the earlier act with those substantive amendments, that the proposal contains a straightforward codification of the existing legal text, without any change in its substance.
F. DREXLER E. FINNEGAN D. CALLEJA CRESPO
Jurisconsult Jurisconsult Director-General
5.3.2025
OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY
for the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA (recast)
(COM(2024)0060 – C90028/2024 – 2024/0035(COD))
Rapporteur for opinion: Heléne Fritzon
SHORT JUSTIFICATION
On the 6th of February 2024, the European Commission published its legislative proposal for a recast of Directive 2011/93/EU on combating the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, as well as child sexual abuse material, replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA. This proposal aims to harmonise criminal law across the EU by addressing crimes such as child sexual abuse material, grooming, sexual assault and rape. The directive also seeks to establish robust measures for detecting and reporting online child sexual abuse, preventing such crimes, and supporting victims.
Child sexual abuse is a growing issue both online and offline. In 2023 alone, there were 1.3 million reports of child sexual abuse in the EU, amounting to over 3.4 million images and videos. Globally, reports have risen from 1 million in 2010 to nearly 35.9 million in 2023, including 105.6 million images and videos. Alarmingly, 9 out of 10 victims are girls, according to INHOPE data. The EU continues to host the majority of child sexual abuse material globally, with 59% of such content being hosted in Member States, according to the Internet Watch Foundation.
The proposal highlights the need to address the misuse of digital platforms for distributing child sexual abuse material and grooming. These crimes predominantly target girls and young women, with male perpetrators being the majority. The Rapporteur emphasises the critical importance of recognising child sexual abuse as a form of gender-based violence and incorporating gender-specific approaches to effectively combat these crimes.
The Rapporteur suggests amendments to prevention measures through targeted awareness campaigns by age and gender. Emphasizing the principle that only an explicit and informed ‘yes’ constitutes consent, the directive must ensure that consent is central to all prevention and support measures. Support for victims and survivors must be specialised and include an integrated gender perspective. To this end, the creation of an EU Centre is strongly endorsed, alongside the establishment of an Advisory Board composed of survivors and children’s rights experts. This board would provide guidance on children’s rights, prevention strategies, and victim support to the governance structures of the EU Centre.
Finally, the Rapporteur believes that this Directive could make a significant difference in combating child sexual abuse for all children. This exponential growth in the dissemination of child sexual abuse material underscores the urgency of updated legislation.
AMENDMENT
The Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality submits the following to the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, as the committee responsible:
Amendment 1
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Amendment 2
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11 a (new)
Amendment 3
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11 b (new)
Amendment 4
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11 c (new)
Amendment 5
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11 d (new)
Amendment 6
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11 e (new)
Amendment 7
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Amendment 8
Proposal for a directive
Recital 22
Amendment 9
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
Amendment 10
Proposal for a directive
Recital 26
Amendment 11
Proposal for a directive
Recital 31
Amendment 12
Proposal for a directive
Recital 31 a (new)
Amendment 13
Proposal for a directive
Recital 33
Amendment 14
Proposal for a directive
Recital 34
Amendment 15
Proposal for a directive
Recital 34 a (new)
Amendment 16
Proposal for a directive
Recital 34 b (new)
Amendment 17
Proposal for a directive
Recital 36
Amendment 18
Proposal for a directive
Recital 36 a (new)
Amendment 19
Proposal for a directive
Recital 37
Amendment 20
Proposal for a directive
Recital 38
Amendment 21
Proposal for a directive
Recital 39
Amendment 22
Proposal for a directive
Recital 39 a (new)
Amendment 23
Proposal for a directive
Recital 39 b (new)
Amendment 24
Proposal for a directive
Recital 40
Amendment 25
Proposal for a directive
Recital 40 a (new)
Amendment 26
Proposal for a directive
Recital 43
Amendment 27
Proposal for a directive
Recital 43 a (new)
Amendment 28
Proposal for a directive
Recital 43 b (new)
Amendment 29
Proposal for a directive
Recital 46
Amendment 30
Proposal for a directive
Recital 54 a (new)
Amendment 31
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Amendment 32
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point a
Amendment 33
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Amendment 34
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b a (new)
Amendment 35
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point d
Amendment 36
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Amendment 37
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Amendment 38
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – introductory part
Amendment 39
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
Amendment 40
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 b (new)
Amendment 41
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 c (new)
Amendment 42
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8
Amendment 43
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8 a (new)
Amendment 44
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8 b (new)
Amendment 45
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – title
Amendment 46
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Amendment 47
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 3
Amendment 48
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 4
Amendment 49
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – point a
Amendment 50
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – point b
Amendment 51
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – point c
Amendment 52
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 6
Amendment 53
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 7 – point b
Amendment 54
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 8
Amendment 55
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 9 – point a
Amendment 56
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 9 – point c
Amendment 57
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Amendment 58
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Amendment 59
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Amendment 60
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 5
Amendment 61
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 6
Amendment 62
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 7
Amendment 63
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 7 a (new)
Amendment 64
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 7 b (new)
Amendment 65
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 7 c (new)
Amendment 66
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Amendment 67
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 5
Amendment 68
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 a (new)
Amendment 69
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a
Amendment 70
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
Amendment 71
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 72
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Amendment 73
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Amendment 74
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Amendment 75
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 76
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 77
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 78
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 6
Amendment 79
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Amendment 80
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point g
Amendment 81
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
Amendment 82
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point h
Amendment 83
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point h a (new)
Amendment 84
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point j a (new)
Amendment 85
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point j b (new)
Amendment 86
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point j c (new)
Amendment 87
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Amendment 88
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 89
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point a
Amendment 90
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point b
Amendment 91
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point c
Amendment 92
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 4
Amendment 93
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Amendment 94
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 1
Amendment 95
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 2
Amendment 96
Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 1
Amendment 97
Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 98
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Amendment 99
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 100
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Amendment 101
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 102
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Amendment 103
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Amendment 104
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 9 – point c a (new)
Amendment 105
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 106
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 2
Amendment 107
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
Amendment 108
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 3 – point f a (new)
Amendment 109
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 3 – point g
Amendment 110
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 111
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 3 – point a
Amendment 112
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 3 – point b
Amendment 113
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 3 – point c
Amendment 114
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 1
Amendment 115
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 2
Amendment 116
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 117
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 3
Amendment 118
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 119
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2 – point a
Amendment 120
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 121
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 5 – point c a (new)
Amendment 122
Proposal for a directive
Article 29 – paragraph 1
Amendment 123
Proposal for a directive
Article 31 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Amendment 124
Proposal for a directive
Article 31 – paragraph 2 – point b
ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT
Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for the opinion received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the opinion:
The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for the opinion.
PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
4.2.2025
LETTER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION
Mr Javier Zarzalejos
Chair
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
BRUSSELS
Subject: Opinion on a Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA (recast) (COM(2024)0060 – C90028/2024 – 2024/0035(COD))
Dear Mr Chair,
Under the procedure referred to above, the Committee on Culture and Education has been granted an opinion to your committee. At their meeting of 21 October 2024, the coordinators decided to send the opinion in the form of a letter. They considered the matter and endorsed the opinion on 03 December 2024.
The Committee on Culture and Education adopted the following position on 30 January 2025 and I call on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions into its final report.
Yours sincerely,
Nela Riehl
SUGGESTIONS
A. European strategies and national frameworks
Stresses the importance of mentioning the new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+) as the digital arm of the rights of the child strategy to protect and empower young people online (Recital 3, Recital 40) and of the European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade (Recital 3). Member States should adopt comprehensive frameworks to ensure that children's digital rights are prioritised, by combining prevention and education, with a particular focus on inclusive and equal access to a safe digital environment, justice and care for all children.
B. Online solicitation of children
Highlights the importance of continuously addressing emerging challenges, especially in the online environment, including in virtual worlds, and to carry out periodic evaluations of the legal framework; emphasizes the urgent need to address more effectively the solicitation of children, covering both in person and online means of communication, and explicitly include meetings taking place in both real and virtual worlds under Article 6, paragraph 1 (a).
C. Hotlines, helplines and support services
Underlines the role of hotlines and helplines to provide assistance to victims and their families, which should be mentioned under Article 21, paragraph 1; stresses that all support services for victims and their families should be comprehensive, specialised, accessible, child-friendly and available in one place, based on the “Barnahus” model (Article 21, paragraph 2);
D. Training for those interacting with children
Stresses the need for national frameworks to better integrate digital education and literacy at school as mandatory skills and an essential part of education; underlines that regular training should be provided for all those who have any contact with children, as a way to prevent and identify any form of child sexual abuse and exploitation, and ensure mandatory regular training for those working with children in all settings, formal and informal; stresses that volunteers and coaches should be mentioned in the list of those eligible to receive regular training, given their significant role in interacting with children and young people (Article 28 paragraph 2, Article 28 paragraph 3, Article 28 paragraph 4, Recital 36, Recital 46); this training must focus on creating equitable, safe, and inclusive environments for all children (Article 28 paragraph 4 (a));
E. Initiatives by organisations and safe spaces
Highlights that leading initiatives of organisations acting in the public interest against child sexual abuse, when these organisations have been authorised by the competent authorities of the Member State in which they are established (such as hotlines and helplines), should be included in the list of entities that contribute to the creation of safe, accessible and inclusive spaces for children mentioned under Article 28 paragraph 4 (c); those spaces must prioritise community-based and child-centred approaches (Article 28 paragraph 4 (c));
F. Indicators and monitoring
Calls for Member States to set up indicators to measure on a regular basis (i.e. yearly) results concerning their awareness-raising and victim assistance programmes, including the impact, outreach, and effectiveness of the activities carried out, to be mentioned under Article 31 (c). A separate chapter should be entirely dedicated to the results related to the most marginalised and vulnerable groups.
ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT
Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, Zala Tomašič, the rapporteur for the CULT opinion, received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the opinion, prior to the adoption thereof in committee:
The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for the opinion
Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for the opinion declares that she has submitted to the concerned natural persons the European Parliament's Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.
PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE
FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE