Exploring funding models for victims’ compensation across Europe
On 9 September 2025, the EU Network of single contact points for compensation held its first online workshop of the year, hosted by ENVR.
Finland and France shared their national approaches to funding and managing state compensation schemes for victims of crime. The session was followed by a lively roundtable exchange.
Key takeaways from the workshop:
- Fair and appropriate compensation: Both Finland and France emphasise that compensation should reflect victims’ real harm, whether pecuniary (e.g. lost income, expenses) or non-pecuniary (e.g. pain and suffering).
- Funding challenges: Finland combines state budget allocations with offender surcharges, recovering around 30% of paid compensation. France relies heavily on a tax on insurance contracts, raising sustainability concerns and sparking debate on future funding models.
- Efficiency matters: In Finland, 80% of cases are resolved within seven months, with clear online information and police reports ensuring low rejection rates. In France, court-based procedures can lead to longer processing times, which may frustrate victims.
- Collaboration counts: Sharing national practices helps identify what works best, from funding streams to decision-making mechanisms, strengthening trust and support for victims across Europe.
We thank all speakers and participants for their valuable contributions – your insights are key to ensuring that victims of crime are not left behind.
