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Victims' rights in the EU

Legal and policy framework on victims’ rights.

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I will keep my eyes open

Victims’ rights campaign

Victims' needs

Every year, an estimated 15% of Europeans or 75 million people in the European Union fall victim to crime. More and more people are travelling, living or studying abroad in another EU country and can become potential victims of crime.

The EU works continuously to ensure that victims receive the support and protection they need, everywhere in the EU.

People falling victim to crime have a range of needs, varying from victim to victim. To meet these needs, all victims must be treated individually. However, the needs of victims can be grouped into 5 broad categories

  • respectful treatment and recognition as victims
  • protection from intimidation, retaliation and further harm by the accused or suspected and from harm during criminal investigations and court proceedings
  • support, including immediate assistance following a crime, longer-term physical and psychological assistance and practical assistance
  • access to justice to ensure that victims are aware of their rights and understand them, and are able to participate in proceedings
  • compensation and restoration, whether through financial damages paid by the state or by the offender or through mediation or other form of restorative justice

Victims' rights in the EU

The Victims' Rights Directive establishes minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime and ensures that persons who have fallen victim to crime are recognised and treated with respect. They must also receive proper protection, support and access to justice.

The Directive considerably strengthens the rights of victims and their family members to information, support and protection. It further strengthens the victims' procedural rights in criminal proceedings. The Directive also requires that EU countries ensure appropriate training on victims' needs for those officials who are likely to come into contact with victims.

EU countries had to implement the provisions of the Directive into their national laws by 16 November 2015. In 2013, the European Commission issued a guidance document to assist EU countries in this process.

On 11 May 2020, the European Commission adopted a report on the implementation of the Victims’ Rights Directive. The report assesses the extent to which Member States have taken the necessary measures to comply with its provisions.

For victims of certain crimes, the EU adopted specific rules. These rules build on the Victims' Rights Directive but respond more directly to the specific needs of victims of particular crimes. The EU legislation exists to provide protection and support for

In order to assist the national authorities in implementation of the EU rules on victims’ rights, the European Commission set up the EU Centre of Expertise for Victims of Terrorism. The EU Centre offers expertise, training, guidance and support to national authorities and to victim support organisations.

On 8 March 2022, the Commission adopted a proposal for a Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence. The proposal provides for concrete measures related to access to information, support, protection, and access to compensation to the extent that these relate specifically to victims of violence against women and victims of domestic violence.

On 24 June 2020, the Commission adopted its first-ever EU strategy on victims’ rights (2020-2025) to ensure that all victims of all crime in the EU can fully benefit from their rights. The Strategy provides for actions for the European Commission, Member States and civil society for a period of 5 years (2020 – 2025).

Evaluation of the Victims’ Rights Directive

On 28 June 2022, the European Commission adopted its evaluation of the Victims’ Rights Directive. The evaluation is one of the Commission’s key actions set out in the EU Strategy on Victims’ Rights (2020 – 2025). It was informed by a support study and data collection that included a public consultation.
The evaluation shows that over the past ten years, the Victims’ Rights Directive has greatly contributed to improving the lives of victims across the EU. It has enhanced victims’ safety and reduced the risk of negatives effect from the participation in criminal proceedings and from the contacts with the offender.
However, the evaluation also points that there are still situation where not all victims can fully rely on their rights due to a lack of clarity and precision in the drafting of some of the rights in the Directive. In particular, shortcomings were identified in relation to victims’ access to information, victims’ access to support services and to protection in accordance with each victim individual needs. Victims should be able to take more active role in the criminal proceedings and have easier access to compensation – so they can see that justice is done for them. 
The Commission will continue working on strengthening victims’ rights and plans to propose a revision of the Victims’ Rights Directive in 2023.

Open public consultation on the impact assessment for the revision of the Victims’ Rights Directive

The Commission conducted a consultation to gather the views of the public on possible policy options within the context of the impact assessment for the revision of the Victims’ Rights Directive. The revision of the Victims’ Rights Directive is part of the EU Strategy on Victims’ Rights (2020 – 2025).

This consultation was directed towards all stakeholders and citizens with an interest in this topic. It lasted from 8 March to 31 May 2022: Open public consultation on the impact assessment for the revision of the Victims’ Rights Directive

Revision of the Victims’ Rights Directive

On 12 July 2023, the Commission proposed amendments to the Victims’ Rights Directive. 


The revision of the Victims’ Rights Directive  addresses problems identified in the Evaluation of the Directive adopted in June 2022. The amendments relate to five main victims’ rights: access to information, improved support and protection, improved participation in criminal proceedings and facilitated access to compensation. 

Objectives of the Commission’s proposal for the revision of the Victims’ Rights Directive

The overall objective of the revision is to contribute to a well-functioning area of freedom, security and justice based on:

  • an efficient recognition of judgments and judicial decisions in criminal matters;
  • a high level of security due to improved crime reporting;
  • victim-centered justice, where victims are recognised and can rely on their rights.

In particular,  the Commission aims to ensure that:

  1. victims have the information they need to be able to exercise their rights – thanks to the obligation on victims’ helpline,
  2. victims’ needs for protection are met accordingly - via strengthened individual assessment of victims’ needs,
  3. victims are better supported – via strengthened support for the most vulnerable victims, including children,
  4. victims can more effectively participate in a criminal proceeding – with the right to  assistance at court and to the right to legal remedies,
  5. victims have more adequate access to compensation from the offender - thanks to improved state support in executing compensation from the offender.

What are the next steps?

The Commission’s proposal has to be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council.

Funding

Justice programme 2014-2020

Documents

12 JULY 2023
Proposal for a Directive amending Directive 2012/29/EU establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA
English
(319.71 KB - HTML)
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12 JULY 2023
Impact Assessment - Proposal for a Directive amending Directive 2012/29/EU establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA
English
(2.35 MB - HTML)
Download
12 JULY 2023
Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment - Proposal for a Directive amending Directive 2012/29/EU establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA
English
(150.08 KB - HTML)
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28 JUNE 2022
Commission Staff Working Document on the evaluation of Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012
English
(1.59 MB - PDF)
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28 JUNE 2022
Executive summary of the evaluation of Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012
English
(305.85 KB - PDF)
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7 DECEMBER 2021
Factsheet Victims' Rights Directive
English
(240.73 KB - PDF)
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11 MAY 2020
Implementation report on Victims’ Rights Directive
English
(162.42 KB - HTML)
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12 FEBRUARY 2019
DG Justice Guidance document related to the transposition and implementation of Directive 2012/29/EU
English
(272.52 KB - PDF)
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