Where the law stands, Dossier 2025/2040(INI)
Importance of consent-based rape legislation in the EU
Own-initiative report (INI): Parliament’s own position on a topic. It is not binding. · First reading
Parliament sets out its own position on a topic. The resolution is not binding but signals what Parliament wants.
Where it stands
Parliament’s position
Parliament adopted the text on 28 April 2026. This is its final position on the matter.
- Referred to committee(done) 13 February 2025
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 25 February 2026
- Tabled for plenary(done) 11 March 2026
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 28 April 2026
- Parliament’s position(done) Final
Decided in plenary
28 April 2026 · decision 11
Jobs, social affairs & equality, Resolution
Importance of consent-based rape legislation in the EU
Adopted 447 for · 160 against · 43 abstained by a large majority
AI summary:The resolution highlights that most rapes are committed by known persons and that victims may freeze, so lack of physical resistance does not imply consent.
What changed
Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament
AI summary:Adds a definition of rape culture and makes training for professionals mandatory, extending it to all legal professionals and law enforcement staff. The other changes are formal: corrected punctuation and removed footnote markers.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Evin Incir (S&D), Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus (S&D)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Verena Mertens (EPP), Pascale Piera (Patriots), Assita Kanko (ECR), Anna-Maja Henriksson (Renew), Diana Riba I Giner (Greens), Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left), Arba Kokalari (EPP), Mathilde Androuët (Patriots), Abir Al-Sahlani (Renew), Mélissa Camara (Greens), Irene Montero (The Left), Irmhild Bossdorf (ESN)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 28 Apr 2026
AI summary:Parliament's resolution on consent-based rape legislation calls for an EU-wide definition of rape based on freely given, withdrawable consent, and urges member states to align laws with international standards.
Tabled for plenary· 11 Mar 2026
AI summary:A resolution on the importance of consent-based rape legislation in the EU calls on the Commission to propose an EU-wide definition of rape based on freely given, informed, withdrawable consent, and urges Member States to align national laws with this standard.
Timeline
Newest first.
Plenary stage 4 steps
28 April 2026
Plenary vote
Sitting of 28 Apr 2026 Report A10-0047/2026Adopted text TA10-0120/2026
27 April 2026
Debated in plenary
MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.
22 April 2026
6 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
11 March 2026
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 4 steps
25 February 2026
Committee vote: report adopted
LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
22 July 2025
Amendments tabled in committee
Members of the committee proposed changes to the draft.
26 June 2025
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text. Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
13 February 2025
Referred to the LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) committee
The lead committee prepares Parliament’s report.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2025/2040(INI)