Internet Watch Foundation

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government: In which European Union member states it is a criminal offence to make, distribute or view pornography involving children.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): It is a criminal offence to make, distribute or view pornography involving children in the UK, Germany, Spain, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, France, Cyprus, Netherlands, Hungary, Belgium, Poland, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Ireland, Malta, Austria and Portugal.

Although it is a criminal offence to make or distribute pornography involving children in Sweden, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia and Greece, the law in these countries does not specifically mention the viewing of pornography involving children.

But in order to comply with a European Union Framework Decision of 22 December 2003 on combating the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, all EU member states are required by 20 January 2006 to take the necessary measures to ensure that the production, distribution, dissemination, transmission, supply, acquisition or possession of child pornography are criminalised under national law.