Press Release: European Commission ensures better protection of crime victims

One of the EU's founding principles is that people should be treated without discrimination in all EU countries. This principle was upheld in the landmark case Cowan v. Trésor public in which the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in 1989 that victims have rights to compensation regardless of their nationality.

Whether a person has been mugged or injured during a terrorist attack, all victims should be treated with respect, offered protection and support, and be able to access justice. But current laws across the EU can be patchy, and do not always meet these basic needs.

In May 2011 the European Commission proposed a package of measures to ensure a minimum level of rights, support and protection for victims across the EU, no matter where they come from or live. Since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU has an explicit competence to legislate on the rights of victims of crime.

• Primary Source

European Commission: Memo/11/310: Victims' rights: Frequently asked questions http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/310&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

EurActiv, 18.5.11: EU moves to protect rights of victims http://www.euractiv.com/en/justice/eu-moves-protect-rights-victims-news-504907

Deutsche Welle, 18.5.11: EU 'puts victims first' with EU-wide justice proposal http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15087719,00.html

European Commission: Speech/11/353: Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission, EU Justice Commissioner, "Ensuring better protection of crime victims", Press Conference, Brussels, 18 May 2011 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/11/353&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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