Production: By Europod, in co-production with Sphera Network.

EUobserver maintains an editorial partnership with Europod to jointly publish the podcast series "Briefed" hosted by Lea Marchal. The podcast can be found on all major platforms.

Here is the complete transcript:

The French Parliament is reviewing a proposal to decriminalise sex work nationwide. For the first time, sex workers helped shape the text alongside lawmakers.

This action has revived a discussion that comes up often in France and across other European states.

What explains the recurring interest? How do various European countries handle the regulation of sex work, and what outcomes have followed?

"This marks the first occasion when politicians have taken our input seriously."

That statement came from Vera, a creator of adult content, in an exchange with the French media outlet StreetPress, a Sphera network partner.

Vera points to the draft legislation introduced on 13 April by Senator Anne Souyris. Developed in collaboration with sex workers and rights groups, the measure seeks to remove criminal penalties tied to sex work among other provisions.

What is the present situation in France?

Prior to 2016, offering sexual services remained lawful. A decade ago, however, the National Assembly enacted rules that penalise the purchase of sex with a 1,500 euro fine, intending to curb pimping and trafficking.

The approach has not delivered the anticipated benefits.

Sex worker organisations report that the restrictive law has neither lowered violence nor curbed exploitation. Instead, groups such as the French union Strass describe a severe worsening of working conditions and personal safety.

Supporting data backs these observations.

Official French statistics indicate that 97 percent of individuals in prostitution operate under pimping networks.

Recent studies from last year show that 95 to 100 percent of sex workers have faced violence, frequently of a sexual nature, while working.

Against this backdrop, advocates and certain elected officials have renewed calls for an alternative framework that legalises sex work. Senator Souyris explained to StreetPress that the bill does not encourage prostitution but instead provides rights and safeguards for those engaged in it.

Do other European countries adopt the same stance?

Views differ. In Germany the conversation has turned toward whether prostitution should be recriminalised.

Sex work has been lawful there since 2002, with mandatory registration for workers since 2017 and licensing required for brothels.

Recent comments by Bundestag president Julia Kloeckner, who labelled Germany the "brothel of Europe," have sparked fresh debate.

Critics argue that legalisation has expanded the market. While 32,300 workers were officially registered by the end of 2024, estimates place the unregistered total between 200,000 and 400,000.

Has the German model improved conditions as some in France hope?

Evidence suggests risks of criminal control persist. The German Institute for Human Rights notes ongoing high levels of trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Rules on prostitution differ sharply across the continent. Nations including Croatia, Slovenia and Romania maintain outright bans on all forms of sex work.

Sweden, Norway and Ireland prohibit buying sexual services while permitting sales, mirroring the current French approach. In contrast, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Greece treat prostitution as legal and subject to regulation.

Overall, consensus remains elusive. Reliable figures on trafficking prove difficult to obtain, complicating assessments of which system works best.

From the perspective of sex workers, legalisation supplies at least partial protection and access to social benefits comparable to other professions.

In 2023 the European Parliament adopted a resolution urging penalties for buyers and assistance for those wishing to exit prostitution.

The measure carries no binding force, since the EU lacks authority in this area, yet it drew strong objections from rights organisations representing sex workers and human rights advocates.