On 10 December, the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional political agreement on the European Commission’s proposal to revise the Victims’ Rights Directive (Directive 2012/29/EU). While formal adoption will take place at a later stage, this agreement represents a significant milestone in strengthening victims’ rights across the European Union.
The revised Directive aims to address existing gaps in protection and support by introducing higher and more consistent standards for victims of crime throughout the EU.
Under the new rules, all victims will benefit from:
- improved access to information and support services, including victims’ helplines and online services;
- facilitated reporting of crime, including the possibility of online reporting and reporting via third parties;
- stronger protection of victims’ personal data, which as a principle should not be disclosed to the offender;
- improved individual assessment of victims’ needs;
- enhanced support during court proceedings;
- more transparent access to legal aid;
- facilitated access to compensation from the offender;
- better coordination and cooperation among professionals in contact with victims;
- improved quality of services through enhanced training for police and judicial authorities.
In addition, the revised Directive introduces targeted measures for specific groups of victims:
- child victims, who will benefit from integrated support and protection based on multi-agency cooperation;
- victims with disabilities, who will benefit from comprehensive access to support services and procedural accommodations;
- victims of sexual violence, who will have access to targeted and integrated support services, including sexual and reproductive healthcare;
- victims of terrorism, who will benefit from strengthened protection, including measures addressing the glorification of offenders.
Once adopted and implemented, the revised Directive will significantly enhance the protection and support available to millions of victims of crime across the European Union.
Further information is available in the European Commission’s press release:
🔗 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_3017
