Brussels, 30/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 30 May, the committees on civil liberties and women's rights of the European Parliament adopted their position on European protection orders in civil matters, to complement measures taken at criminal level in a separate directive, presented under the Spanish Presidency of the EU. In this joint vote, the two committees supported the recognition of protection measures decided upon in a member state in favour of a victim of harassment, stalking or kidnapping in all other countries of the EU to which this person may travel. The new provisions, a directive on victims' rights and a regulation on protection orders presented in May 2011 by Commissioner Viviane Reding, will help to cut out all the formalities required to guarantee the recognition and application of protection measures in civil matters for people under threat travelling within the internal borders of the EU, a press release indicates. The MEPs have “modified the proposal to make sure that the rules on European protection decisions cover all threats to the physical and moral integrity of a person, including threats to dignity, safety and personal freedoms”, the two committees explain. They have also proposed to make it possible to apply for certificates online and to exempt the victim from the costs of the recognition procedure. This vote provides rapporteurs Antonio Lopez-Istùriz White (EPP, Spain) and Antonyia Parvanova (ALDE, Bulgaria) with a mandate to negotiate a first-reading agreement with the Council. (SP/transl.fl)