Subject: Involvement of senior political figures in Portuguese paedophile rings

Recent revelations regarding the involvement of senior political figures in Portuguese paedophile rings coincide with the preparations for the trial of a prominent television presenter, a former diplomat and a child health specialist in similar cases. This once more highlights the bleak reality regarding the sexual abuse of children. In this connection the Council is on the point of adopting an official and definitive decision regarding proposed measures to combat the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography following two years of deliberations and negotiations between the Member States.

Is the Council satisfied with policies to date seeking to combat the sexual exploitation of children and does it consider further measures necessary to combat effectively at European level this extremely serious problem, which is nothing less than a direct violation of human rights and human dignity?