Support grows for new EU game restrictions

Support for new restrictions on the sale of videogames to minors is growing across the EU, after a two-day session in Germany picked up more approval by European countries, reports twincities.com

Organised by EU justice and home affairs commissioner Franco Frattini, the meeting was attended by German interior minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and justice minister Brigitte Zypris, who together "encouraged member states to prevent, to ban violent videogames."

Luc Frieden, justice minister of Luxembourg also joined the call to action, adding, "access to children should be cut off. We have to ban some games."

Frattini, who is proposing new legislation to tackle the sale of mature-rated games to minors, believes current ratings systems across the EU are inadequate and that all 27 EU nations should adopt a unified restrictions system.

"The protection of children cannot have borders," he said.

"What we can do is to raise awareness about sensitivity of the issue and also to increase and to encourage measures to be taken in a practical way by police authorities, particularly about checking the identity of minors," detailed Frattini.

Germany, which currently holds the EU presidency, intends to consult with the United States, Japan and Russia to encourage better coordination internationally on the sale of violent video games.