In the meeting of EU's Justice and Home Affairs ministers on 21 February 2006, the Swedish delegation highlighted the risk of increased trafficking of prostitutes in the context of the 2006 football world championship in Germany this summer. The Swedish minister Thomas Bodström, alarmed by reports that Germany is providing facilities for an expected increase in prostitution during this event, asked Germany to take tough measures to fight trafficking of women and forced prostitution.
"I'm pleased that many member states share my concern and are willing to work on the issue," said the Swedish Minister of Justice Thomas Bodström. The ministers are set to debate ways to combat trafficking of humans during sports events at the next Council meeting on 27-28 April 2006. Forced prostitution in the framework of world sports events will also be debated in the European Parliament plenary session on 13 March 2006.
According to a recent study on national legislation on prostitution and trafficking of women and children, prostitution is legal in most of the EU's member states, except in Sweden, Ireland, Malta and Lithuania.
