The proposal for a Directive on combating sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography was adopted unanimously by the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE) of the European Parliament yesterday evening.

The text, which will replace the Framework Decision of 2004, will be approved by the plenary in Strasbourg in June.

Among the main points of the new Directive are: the introduction of the definition of sex tourism crimes and the introduction of prohibitive rules to avoid the risk of recurrence of crimes for those who have already been convicted of child abuse; the introduction of measures of protection and assistance to victims; stronger tools to combat online child pornography and the grooming of children online; and mandatory measures for the immediate removal or blocking of websites that contain child sexual abuse.

"With the support of the European Commission, in particular with Commissioners Malmström, Tajani and Reding, the European Parliament intends to provide the 27 Member States with an innovative legislative instrument at the disposal of the competent authorities and NGOs, so that there is zero tolerance against all crimes against minors", said Roberta Angelilli MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament and Rapporteur for the Directive.

(Translated from the original Italian)

For further information:
Roberta ANGELILLI MEP, Tel: +33-3-88175902
Elisabetta Montano, EPP Group Press & Communications Service, Tel: +32-478-933978

Notes to Editors:
The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 265 Members.