Brussels, 12/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 12 January, MEPs at the EP Civil Liberties (LIBE) Committee adopted their position on European protection orders in civil matters, pending legislation for the directive that they were adopting on criminal matters promoted by the Spanish presidency of the Council in 2010. On Thursday, MEPs examined the draft regulation proposed last May by Commissioner Viviane Reding to tackle the civil aspects of European protection decisions. They agreed on a decision-making method on the criminal area and on civil matters. The regulation of May 2011 proposed by the Commission therefore aims to ensure that protection measures are recognised for victims in the countries where these measures are enacted by civil or administrative jurisdictional bodies.
According to this text, adopted by 48 votes in favour, with one against and one abstention, anyone benefiting from a protection measure against an aggressor in their respective member state (for example an injunction against an aggressor) will therefore be able to enjoy the same guarantee when they go to another EU country, on the basis of mutual recognition of decisions.
On 13 December in Strasbourg, the European Parliament validated the draft directive on the European protection order in criminal proceedings. In practice, once a person benefits from protection in a member state, the person in question can introduce a request for European protection to be extended to another member state where the person wishes to go. It is the member state of origin, which issues the decision on protection and transmits it to another member state.