European Union justice ministers commenced discussion Wednesday which will likely include propositions for stricter marketing of violent computer games.

German justice minister Brigitte Zypries told reporters she did not expect a consensus among the EU justice ministers on standards for selling violent video and computer games.

Zypries commented before the meeting began that the 27 nations forming the European Union have different legal standards on this issue, which would hinder the agreement on a joint regulation.

The German justice minister said she expected governments to take voluntary measures in applying stricter rules on the sale of killer games.

In November 2006 an 18-year-old computer games addict from a North German town wounded 11 of his school colleagues and then killed himself.

The German game industry has evolved a self-regulated ratings system for video and computer games.

This is not so in all EU countries. Retailers in most EU nations are not obliged by law to keep games classified for adults from children. Likewise, the bloc’s 27 member states have different standards of assessing video and computer games.

The European Commission plans to introduce common sanctions against retailers selling violent video games to children. Member states will identify these products themselves.

The new rules could include age restrictions on violent games as well as stronger parental advisory warnings.