Negotiations on the European Directive have run aground, lacking unanimity of views among the 27 countries on some points. The main obstacle to be overcome in Brussels is linked in particular to Article 5 of the text.
France, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic demand that victims must prove the use of force or threat; while the position of 13 others, including Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden and Italy, is in line with the slogan: 'No means no' Trade unions are also protesting against the elimination of the definition of "sexual harassment in the world of work" from article 4.