In other words, prosecutors no longer need to prove that sex with someone younger than 15 was forced in order to get rape charges against offenders.
The new sexual consensual age limit forms part of a package of other laws against sexual violence and harassment to be approved by the government in the coming weeks. It also follows discussions on whether to set the age as 13 or 15, which is what groups fighting violence against children had campaigned for.
French Equality Minister Marlène Schiappa welcomed the move, telling AFP news agency that she was “very glad” that the higher age was chosen. The limit is also supported by President Emmanuel Macron and follows advice from doctors and legal experts.
Minister of Solidarity and Health Agnès Buzyn said setting a legal age of sexual consent would allow a “collective awareness” and that everyone would see what was “legal and illegal“, Le Figaro newspaper reports (in French).
The change comes amid an uproar over two recent cases of men accused of having sex with 11-year-old girls. Under the existing legislation, if there is no violence or coercion proved, offenders may only be charged with sexual abuse of a minor and not rape. This has a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of €75,000 (£66,000; $87,000).
Sentences are the same for sexual assaults of minors and non-minors, but rape convictions carry much harsher punishments.
A version of this story first appeared on the BBC website.
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