“The essential tasks of Justice are to repair the intolerable affront inflicted on victims of crimes and to uphold their fundamental right to human dignity. Crime can have profound and long-lasting effects on victims of crime. They must be heard, supported, and treated with respect, compassion and fairness throughout their experience and interactions with the criminal justice system.
The recent political agreement on the revised Victims Rights Directive is a major step forward and will make it easier and less stressful for victims to report crimes and to participate in criminal proceedings. The new rules aim to usher in a justice system that places victim protection front and centre across the Union. They are mindful of the victims needs at every step of the justice process, from the moment they come forward to the aftermath of the proceedings.
New helplines will offer immediate, clear information and emotional support. Reporting crime online and participating in criminal proceedings will become simpler, with dedicated and tailored support throughout judicial proceedings. Child victims will also benefit from better access to justice in courts. All victims will benefit from stronger protection of their personal data and access to compensation will be reinforced.
Professionals who interact with victims, such as police officers, lawyers and judicial officials, will be better equipped to ensure a safe space for victims to seek justice. The revised Directive will also ensure equal access to justice for all by strengthening protection for vulnerable groups, including children and persons with disabilities.
We call on all Member States to fully implement the revised rules and to work closely with all relevant actors so that victims receive real protection, effective support and genuine access to justice.”
Background
The EU Victims Rights Directive, in application since 2015, establishes minimum standards to ensure that victims of crime are recognised, treated with respect and receive appropriate protection, support and access to justice across the European Union, regardless of their nationality or place of residence.
The Directive strengthened victims rights and procedural guarantees, while requiring Member States to provide training for officials interacting with victims. Additional EU rules address the specific needs of victims of human trafficking, child sexual exploitation and child abuse, terrorism, non-cash payment fraud and violence against women.
The evaluation of the Victims Rights Directive, published in June 2022, confirmed that the Directive has broadly generated the expected benefits. It brought a positive impact on victims rights to access information and improved their access to support services.
However, the evaluation also demonstrated shortcomings that require targeted improvement in relation to victims main rights.
To address the identified gaps, in 2023 the European Commission proposed a Revision of the Victims Rights Directive. On 10 December 2025, the European Parliament and Council reached a political agreement on the revised Directive. The new rules introduce victims helplines, dedicated court support, improved psychological assistance, stronger protection of personal data, and better-coordinated services for child victims. The new rules also strengthen training for police, judges, and prosecutors to efficiently respond to victims rights and needs.
For more information
Commission welcomes agreement on stronger EU rules ensuring victims rights