Women are safe in Europe. Or are they?  It is highly alarming that one-third of women in the EU have experienced some form of physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15.

We have zero tolerance for any form of violence against women and girls and 100% determination to combat it. In fact, the EPP Group led EU accession to the Istanbul Convention. For the first time, we will have a legally-binding international treaty to fight violence against women.

Besides, we have also led the negotiations for a Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence. This new EU Directive criminalises two types of sexual violence and five types of cyber offences against women.

However, we deeply regret that no agreement was reached on the criminalisation of rape. But we managed to include in the Directive requirements to promote the central role of consent in sexual relationships and take targeted measures for the rape prevention.

Women must be free from fear everywhere in Europe.