03/12/2019 (Agence Europe) – The European Ministers of Justice, meeting in Council format, adopted a series of conclusions on Tuesday 3 December. First, they adopted the EU Council’s conclusion on strengthening protections of the rights of victims of crime, which invites the Commission to develop a strategy for 2020-2024 covering all victims of crime (see EUROPE 12373/15). They also adopted conclusions encouraging the use of alternative measures to detention (see EUROPE 12374/17). Finally, EU Council conclusions on the future of cooperation in civil justice matters were also adopted. These underline the need to give priority to the effective implementation of existing Community instruments (see EUROPE 12350/11). The European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, has promised that the Commission will do its utmost to translate these conclusions into action. (MF)