Makkelijker compensatie voor slachtoffers misdaad (en)

The Commission has adopted the Report on the application of Council Directive 2004/80/EC of 29 April 2004 relating to compensation to crime victims, which aims to make it easier for victims to obtain compensation in cross-border situations. The report was produced in accordance with Article 19 of the Directive.

Expressing his satisfaction, Vice-President Jacques Barrot said "Compensation for victims of crime in the EU is an important objective in the creation of an area of justice, freedom and security. I am delighted that this report shows that Directive 2004/80 has made it possible to set up a system of cooperation that will make it easier for victims to gain access to fair and appropriate compensation, regardless of where the crime was committed in the EU."

The Directive establishes a system of cooperation between national authorities to facilitate access to compensation for victims of crime in cross-border situations, i.e. where the crime was committed in a Member State other than the victim's country of residence. Its aim is to ensure appropriate compensation for victims of crime throughout the European Union and to make it easier to seek compensation in cross-border situations. It also provides for a compensation scheme and closer cooperation between Member States.

The report on the application of the Directive shows that:

• - 

  all Member States but one have enacted national measures transposing the Directive; infringement proceedings have been started against the one Member State that has so far failed to do so;
• - 

  not all implementing measures have been brought into line;
• - 

  the Member States are providing fair and appropriate compensation for victims; substantial degree of conformity seems to have been achieved across the Member States;
• - 

  although the decision-makers and those in charge of providing assistance are satisfied with the way in which the present system is working, applicants for compensation find the application procedure complicated and time-consuming, and the language barrier is a serious obstacle to processing victims' claims.

So, while the Directive has improved cooperation between the Member States' authorities and made it easier for victims of crime to obtain compensation, it has not yet been possible to exploit its full potential.

The Commission therefore feels that the application of the Directive could be improved, particularly as regards collecting data on its implementation as a basis for evaluating the efficiency of the procedure and the availability of information about the Directive and the national compensation schemes, both at Member State level and on the websites of the European Judicial Network in Civil and Commercial Matters and the European Judicial Atlas in Civil Matters.

Given that the application of the Directive can be improved using the existing provisions, there are no plans to amend it.

The Directive applies to all of the Member States (legal basis: Article 308 of the Treaty establishing the European Community).