26/05/2023 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 26 May, the Member States’ ambassadors to the EU (Coreper II) decided to submit a political agreement (‘general approach’) on the directive to combat domestic violence and violence against women to the Council of the EU for approval. However, according to two European sources, the text prepared by the Swedish Presidency did not meet with unanimous approval. Indeed, some Member States have expressed reservations about the legal basis of the legislation, as some of the acts it seeks to criminalise are not directly listed in Article 83(1) TFEU on “European crimes”. Although rape is one of the areas concerned, the Swedish Presidency has removed the chapter on rape from its draft agreement (‘general approach’) (see EUROPE 13185/14). EU ministers will in turn examine the text at the ‘Justice and Home Affairs’ Council meeting on 9 June. (HS)