Matti Robinson
21 Feb 2007 1:26
Germany, holding the presidency of the European Council, is pushing through stricter restrictions with the support of European Commission to the sales of violent video games. This new institution would affect all the EU members states, currently EU doesn't control member states' legislation on the subject.
The legislation would require all games to be revised to fit the target age group. According to vice president of European Commission Franco Frattini, there is a wide mutual understanding in EU about how the sales would be restricted. The current legislation of Germany is considered the most strict in Europe and according to Frattini would be a good base for all the other members as well.
The PEGI system, which allows large publishers like Nintendo and PlayStation to rate their own games, currently in use in 16 countries would be replaced. Next step will include inquiry to member states, which will map the means of punishment and give the base to Germany's final proposal.
Source:
HS.fi (in Finnish)