Brussels, 22/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - In Strasbourg on Wednesday, MEPs agreed on new European rules to ensure the mutual recognition of protection orders issued in favour of victims of crime, harassment or domestic violence which can be enforced throughout the EU. These new civil law rules complement those already validated by the European Parliament covering the criminal plank (directive on the European protection decision in penal matters adopted in 2011). Under the new regulation, victims of stalking, harassment or violence based on gender who are protected in one member state will enjoy equivalent protection if they visit or travel to another country of the EU, without having to carry out lengthy formalities. The draft was voted through by 602 votes to 23, with 63 abstentions. This civil regulation, which was presented in May 2011 by Commissioner Viviane Reding, includes threats to a person's physical and moral integrity, including threats to that person's liberty, safety and sexual integrity. In particular, the rules include a standardised and multilingual certificate including all essential information, in order to reduce translation costs. Denmark has opted out of the regulation, which will come into force in January 2015. (SP/transl.fl)