On Tuesday 28 June, the European Commission published an assessment of the Victims’ Rights Directive. It sets minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime in the EU.
Since 2012, this legislation has “made a significant contribution to improving the lives of victims across the EU”, according to the Commission, in particular by ensuring greater safety and reducing the inconvenience of participating in trials for victims.
However, the evaluation also shows that not all victims are able to exercise their rights. This is due to a lack of precision and clarity in the wording of several rights enshrined in the Directive. This is the case, for example, for access to information, support services or protection for victims.
The Commission has therefore announced that it plans to revise the directive in 2023. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)