Brussels, 21/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has hailed the agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Irish Presidency on Wednesday 20 February on civilian protection of victims of violent crime in the EU, particularly female victims of domestic violence. The agreement follows a similar agreement (covered by a different directive) about protection under the criminal law system.
Unveiled in May 2011 by Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding, this draft regulation covers the recognition of victim protection measures issued in one member state against anyone found guilty of violence in any other member state where the victim may travel. Often this amounts to a ban on approaching the victim. Now that the agreement has been reached, the European Parliament and EU Council of Ministers need to formally endorse it. The Justice Council on 8 March is expected to discuss the matter, before sending the dossier back to the Parliament, which will work on it in April and then again in June.
The draft regulation was unveiled along with a directive granting basic rights to victims across the EU27, such as the right to information, translation rights and the right of access to specialist help. The directive was adopted by the Council of Ministers in October 2012 and in September by the Parlia: ment. Another item of legislation was unveiled during the Spanish Presidency and adopted towards the end of 2011, this time on the criminal law aspects of victim protection orders. (SP/transl.fl)