COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Monday, 22 June 2026

● European Council   22/06/2026 14:37 | Press release | Joint declaration following the second EU-Moldova summit   On 22 June 2026, the European Union and the Republic of Moldova held their second summit in Brussels. It was a key opportunity to highlight the strategic importance of Moldova's future within the EU and to strengthen the partnership between the EU and Moldova. During the summit, leaders issued a joint declaration reflecting the depth of EU-Moldova partnership and the concrete benefits it brings to citizens. The full text of the declaration is available below: Joint declaration following the second EU-Republic of Moldova summit   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   22/06/2026 14:46 | Press release | Combatting child sexual abuse: EU agrees stronger criminal law rules and enhanced support to victims   Today, the Council Presidency and European Parliament representatives reached a provisional agreement on updating the EU’s criminal law rules on child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children. The revised rules will cover more offences, set higher penalties and ensure more effective prosecution, also via the increase of limitation periods. To better protect children, the new framework provides clear rules on the issue of consent and strengthens assistance to victims. This provisional agreement still needs to be confirmed by both institutions before going through the formal adoption procedure. “It is our duty to protect children against sexual abuse. Today, we are taking a decisive step to strengthen that protection across the European Union. With these new measures, children will be better safeguarded against sexual abuse and exploitation, including where offenders use emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to target them. Offenders will face tougher consequences and be brought to justice, even many years after their crimes were committed. At the same time, we are strengthening support for victims, recognising that the consequences of abuse can last a lifetime.” — Costas Fytiris, Minister of Justice and Public order of the Republic of Cyprus Key elements of the agreement Expanded definition of criminal offences The new rules update existing criminal offences and also create new ones in order to ensure that all forms of child sexual abuse and exploitation are criminalised including the use of technological developments to commit these offences. Under the new rules, paying to access the livestreaming of child sexual abuse will be punishable. In addition, designing or adapting AI systems to produce child sexual abuse material, as well as distributing such systems, will be considered a criminal offence. This update was necessary given the increasing emergence of deep fake or AI-generated abuse material. Grooming, i.e. soliciting a child under the age of sexual consent to produce or share child sexual abuse material will be considered a criminal offence. Where the child is above the age of sexual consent, solicitation will be considered a criminal offence in case of coercion or threats, as well as if the offender falsely represents himself as a peer. Member states will also have to punish sexual extortion of children, meaning situations where an offender threatens a child to disclose child sexual abuse material so as to obtain money or further child sexual abuse material in exchange. As another novelty, owning and distributing instructions on how to commit child sexual abuse or how to produce child sexual abuse material (for instance through a book, an online guide or a prompt) will be punishable. Provisions on consent The revised rules establish more clearly that engaging in sexual activities with children who have reached the age of sexual consent should be punishable if the child does not consent. The rules clarify that consent is not present if the child does not consent voluntarily on the basis of free will, or if the child cannot form a free will, for instance when sleeping, or if unconscious or surprised. The child’s silence or non-resistance alone does not amount to consent, nor do past or existing relations with the offender. The rules also make it clear that consent can be withdrawn at any time. As is the case under the current legislation, it remains a national competence to define the age of sexual consent, i.e. the age below which it is prohibited to engage in sexual activities with a child. Higher limitation periods - Strengthening prosecution The updated rules set a longer time period during which offences can be investigated and prosecuted after the victim has reached the age of majority. This time period goes up to 32 years for the rape of children below and above the age of sexual consent, as well as for forcing a child into prostitution. This will help ensure that victims of sexual abuse can effectively seek justice, considering that they may need a long period of time to report the offences they suffered as a child. The new rules will also contribute to making it easier for professionals working with children to report child sexual abuse or child sexual exploitation. Higher penalties The penalties for several of the offences have been increased, above the level of the current Directive. Enhanced support to victims Support for the victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation will be improved. Under the revised rules, helplines will inform victims of the support available to them. Child victims must have timely access to healthcare services, free of charge, as well as to legal aid. The new directive also includes rules on interim accommodation for victims. Member states must ensure that victims of child sexual abuse have the right to claim compensation from the offender. Next steps The provisional agreement will now have to be endorsed by the Council and the Parliament. It will then be formally adopted by both institutions following legal-linguistic revision. National governments will then have 3 years to adapt their criminal law codes to bring them into line with the revised EU directive. Background The current EU criminal law rules on sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children were agreed in 2011. The increased online presence of children and technological developments pose challenges for law enforcement and create new possibilities for abuse. The revised rules agreed today aim to address these developments. The updated criminal law rules are complementary to a proposal which sets out obligations for internet companies to detect, report and remove child sexual abuse material on their services. Negotiations on this proposal are ongoing. Combatting child sexual abuse: Council adopts position on strengthened EU criminal law (press release, 13 December 2024) EU Law Tracker   Visit the website ● European Council   22/06/2026 15:55 | Statements and remarks | Remarks by President António Costa at the press conference following the EU–Moldova summit   We have just finished a summit between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova. It is our second summit and could not have come at a better moment, just one week after Moldova reached a historic milestone on its journey to the European Union, with the opening of the first cluster of accession negotiations. I want to start by congratulating you, Madame President, for your work that made this possible. You have shown remarkable courage and determination on Moldova’s European Union accession path. The people of Moldova have chosen Europe. And your resilience and your personal commitment are paying off. The progress that Moldova has made to advance swiftly on its European Union path since it was granted candidate status is truly impressive. I encourage you to keep up the reform momentum, and advance Moldova’s alignment with the European Union acquis. The decision by the Council to open negotiations on the first cluster reflects how our member states recognise your progress, as well as our commitment with the enlargement process to a strong and prosperous Moldova, as a future member of the European Union family. We will be with you every step of the way. Looking back – it is truly remarkable how much our cooperation has grown in just a few years. But we want to achieve even more together. And this is what today’s Summit was about. Our meeting reflects the depth of our partnership. From security and defence to boosting economic growth and trade, strengthening resilience, and fostering regional integration– the European Union’s cooperation with Moldova now spans all possible policy areas. And gradual integration into the EU’s market is already bringing concrete benefits to your citizens. This is already true for the Single Euro Payments Area, allowing for cheaper bank transfers. And for the ‘Roam like at home program’, reducing dramatically the phone bill for Moldovans travelling to the EU, and vice versa. This is especially important for young Moldovans, who will also benefit from the plans for a closer association to the Erasmus+ programme, investments in schools and the extension of the DiscoverEU Rail Pass to young travellers from Moldova. Most importantly, underpinning all our economic efforts, the Growth Plan is delivering tangible results and will keep on supporting the key investments projects across the country. And I am sure that Ursula will share more details on this key element.  Our partnership is mutually beneficial. Moldova’s expertise in countering hybrid threats has already benefited other countries. The EU Partnership Mission on the ground is doing a great job in strengthening your institutions against foreign interference, and it has served as a model for our new EU Partnership Mission in Armenia. Thank you, President Sandu, dear Maia, for your leadership in guiding your country towards Europe. The European Union is determined to continue to work hand in hand with Moldova for the benefit of our democracies, our economies, and our citizens.   Visit the website ● European Council   21/06/2026 17:10 | Media advisory | Media advisory - EU-Moldova summit of 22 June 2026   Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change. Monday 22 June 2026 11:00 Arrival of President of Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu Welcome by President Costa and President von der Leyen Family photo 11:15 Leaders' meeting 11:45 Plenary sessions Opening remarks (live stream) 12:45 Working lunch 14:05 Signing ceremony +/- 14:30 Joint press conference At the end of the meeting (+/- 14:15) - Press conference in the Europa Building press room in live streaming. Access for the media Journalists holding a valid interinstitutional badge or a one-year badge for EU summits will be granted access to the Europa building Forum, Europa press room, and the press centre in the JL building. Those without one of these valid badges must request, via email to the address press.centre@consilium.europa.eu, one-day accreditation by submitting the following documents: A copy of their passport or ID A copy of their national badge or a letter from their editor-in-chief For more information on media accreditation procedures at the Council, please refer to Media accreditation. Photo opportunity during the plenary session and the signing ceremony will be pooled and restricted to holders of one-year badge for EU summits. Videos and photos of the EU-Moldova summit will be available on: Council newsroom   Visit the website