                         *****************************
                         AGES OF CONSENT WITHIN EUROPE
                               as of 09/09/1993
                         *****************************
            Notes (in parentheses) appear at the end of the listing
                 Council of Europe members are marked with a *

Country                   Gay Men          Lesbians         Heterosexuals
------------------------  ---------------  ---------------  ---------------
Albania                   14               14               14
Austria                *  18               14               14
Belgium                *  16               16               16
Bosnia-Herzegovina        Illegal          14               14
Bulgaria (1)           *  14 (18?)         14 (18?)         14
Bielorussia (1)           Illegal (2)      18 (16?)         18 (16?)
Croatia                   18               14               14
Cyprus                 *  Illegal (3)      16               16
Czech Republic         *  15               15               15
Denmark (4)            *  15/18            15/18            15/18
Estonia (1, 5)            16               14               14/16
Finland (4)            *  18/21            18/21            16/18
France                 *  15               15               15
Germany (ex-East) (6)  *  14               14               14
Germany (ex-West) (6)  *  18               14               14
Gibraltar                 18               18               18
Greece                 *  15/17 (7)        15               15
Hungary                *  18               18               14
Iceland                *  14               14               14
Irish Republic         *  17               17               17
Italy (8)              *  14/16            14/16            14/16
Latvia (1)                18 (16?)         18 (16?)         18 (16?)
Liechtenstein          *  18               14               14
Lithuania (1)             18 (16?)         18 (16?)         18 (16?)
Luxembourg             *  16               16               16
Macedonia                 Illegal          14               14
Malta (4, 9)           *  12/18            12/18            12/18
Moldavia (1)              Illegal (2)      18 (16?)         18 (16?)
Montenegro                14               14               14
Netherlands (9)        *  12/16            12/16            12/16
Norway                 *  16               16               16
Poland                 *  15               15               15
Portugal (9)           *  12/16            12/16            12/16
Romania (1)               Illegal          Illegal          16 (14?)
Russia (1)                18 (16?)         18 (16?)         18 (16?)
San Marino (8)         *  14/16            14/16            14/16
Serbia                    Illegal          14               14
Slovak Republic        *  15               15               15
Slovenia                  14               14               14
Spain (4, 9)           *  12/18            12/18            12/18
Sweden                 *  15               15               15
Switzerland (4, 10)    *  16/20            16/20            16/20
Turkey (11)            *  15/18            15/18            15/18
Ukraine (1)               18 (16?)         18 (16?)         18 (16?)
United Kingdom (12)    *  21 (18?)         16               16

(1)  There is conflicting information about the ages of consent in some ex-
     communist countries.  Therefore, as well as listing the age cited by
     the most authoritative sources, the age claimed by other sources is
     listed in brackets.

(2)  Only sodomy is a specific criminal offence.  Other homosexual acts are
     in theory lawful - with the age of consent being the same as for
     heterosexual behaviour.

(3)  The European Court of Human Rights in 1993 ordered Cyprus to lift its
     ban on male homosexuality.  Decriminalisation is expected in the near
     future.

(4)  The higher age applies in cases where an older person has a position
     of trust or authority over a younger person ie. a parent or teacher.

(5)  The Estonian age of consent is 14 for women and 16 for men, regardless
     of sexual orientation, based on the assumption that men mature later
     than women.

(6)  Since German reunification, there is an interim situation whereby East
     Germany's laws concerning homosexuality still apply in the eastern
     half of the country, and West Germany's laws remain in force in the
     western sector.  The German goverment has announced its intention to
     ntroduce a common age of consent of 16 for heterosexual, lesbian and
     gay sex.

(7)  In Greece, the 'seduction' of a man under 17 by a man over 18 is an
     offence.

(8)  Sex with 14 and 15 year-olds is only punishable if they are 'sexually
     innocent' and make a formal complaint.

(9)  Sex with persons between the lower and higher age is only prosecuted
     if the younger person, or if their parent or guardian files a formal
     complaint.

(10) Sex with a person under 16 is not prosecuted if there is no more
     than three years difference in the partners' ages.  If there is more
     than three years' difference, but the older person is under 20 and
     there are 'mitigating circumstances', the authorities can waive
     prosecution.

(11) The higher age applies to sexual intecourse (vaginal and anal), and
     the lower age to all other sexual acts.

(12) In Northern Ireland, the age of consent for heterosexual and lesbian
     relations is 17.
