The EU's former Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson presented updated minimum rules on crime and punishment regarding sexual abuse of children last spring. In the original proposal, it was suggested, among other things, that the lack of clear consent should be considered rape when it comes to young people who have reached the age of sexual self-determination – 15 years in Sweden.
However, when EU countries negotiated their views on the matter, much has been removed – not least what concerns when a person is considered unable to give their consent.
This has led to Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Slovenia jointly protesting.
"For us, it goes without saying that unconscious or sleeping children cannot give consent to sexual acts," the countries write in a joint statement regarding the decision to be taken on Friday.
We want to see clear consent regulations. It must be clearly stated that it is not legal to have sexual contact or a relationship with a minor unless it is unequivocally clear that it takes place with full consent, says Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer ahead of the meeting.
Sweden's hope is now that sharper wording will be reintroduced into the proposal with the help of the EU Parliament, which has not yet agreed on its view on the directive.
