EU debate preventitive measures against sexual harassment

European lawmakers urged the end of unchecked sexual harassment on Wednesday as fallout from the Harvey Weinstein scandal in Hollywood reverberated across the EU institutions.

A handbag stands next to a placard with the hashtag 'MeToo' during a debate to discuss preventive measures against sexual harassment and abuse in the EU. Source: AAP

MEPs, who are due to vote on a resolution on the subject on Thursday, debated ways to put an end to all forms of sexual harassment with some even sharing their own experiences.

"I was 19-years-old at university, he was a like-minded professor about 70-years-old, an intellectual comrade," said Italian MEP Eleonora Forenza of the radical left GUE party.

Another MEP, Terry Reintke of the Greens party, said "me too, I have been sexually harassed just like millions of other women in the European Union."

German MEP Terry Reintke (C) sits with a '#metoo' placard next to Lithuanian MEP Bronis Rope (L) and Austrian MEP Michel Reimon, during a debate in the EU. Source: AFP

"I think it is about time that we very clearly say that we should not be ashamed but that the perpetrators should be ashamed," she added.

The debate came amid increasing talk of widespread sexual harassment in the EU, including so-far anonymous reports of rape and abuse of power among parliamentary staff.

"Cases of rape or sexual harassment have been reported" and there have been "sanctions and disciplinary measures taken", a spokeswoman for the European Parliament said.

European Parliament member of the group of the Greens/European Free Alliance sit behind placards with the hashtag 'MeToo'. Source: AAP

But these did not involve MEPs or their assistants, she said, adding that she could not say more for "reasons of confidentiality".

The European Commission, the EU's vast executive arm of roughly 32,000 employees, said it upheld "zero tolerance for all sorts of inappropriate behaviour."

"We have very strict rules in place, which oblige colleagues to behave with propriety and not behave inappropriately in any way," commission spokesman Alexander Winterstein, said in a press conference.

Austrian member of the European Parliament, Evelyn Regner (L) and French member of the European Parliament Patrick Durand, talk behind placard reading "Me too". Source: AFP

European Parliament members vote during a session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, 25 October 2017. Source: AAP