German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig on Tuesday welcomed EU plans to make it illegal to engage in sexual activities with minors unless they have given their explicit consent - also known as the "only yes means yes" principle.
Representatives of the EU's 27 member states and the European Parliament agreed on Monday to strengthen criminal rules to combat child sexual abuse.
Under the plans, any sexual acts performed without a child's clear consent are to be punishable by up to 10 years in prison, according to parliament. Member states will be required to ensure that a child's silence or lack of resistance cannot be interpreted as consent to sexual acts.
"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 European Council, which represents member states, said in a statement.
Germany's Hubig hailed the move, arguing that "only the 'yes means yes' principle consistently protects sexual self-determination."
The changes still need to be officially approved by the European Council and the European Parliament, which is considered a formality.
In Germany, where the age of sexual consent is 14, the so-called "no means no" principle still applies legally, meaning sexual acts are deemed punishable if one party explicitly speaks out against them or makes their objection otherwise known.
The German Justice Ministry said it was preparing to implement the new EU directive for once it has been approved by the bloc.
Hubig also plans to campaign to apply the "yes means yes" model in adult criminal law in Germany, as is already the case in most EU member states.
