On 17 March, EJTN joined a high-level extended plenary meeting, organised by the European Commission, aiming at informing on the new rules of the EU Directive in Victims’ rights.
The revised Directive represents a major step forward in strengthening victims’ rights across the EU, reflecting the sustained efforts of successive EU Presidencies and the agreement reached under the Danish Presidency on 10 December.
EJTN was pleased to take part in last week’s discussions, advancing its mission to equip judges, prosecutors and court staff with the skills they need to tackle complex cross‑border crime. Alongside training on judicial cooperation tools, EJTN provides specific training on victims’ rights from a victim‑centred perspective.
Through its yearly Training Needs Assessment (TNA) and in alignment with the European Commission’s European Judicial Training Strategy 2025-2030, EJTN puts victims’ rights at the centre of its training priorities.
This commitment is reflected in EJTN’s Criminal Justice portfolio, which includes courses on supporting victims of cybercrime and strengthening the protection of vulnerable victims, among others.
EJTN leads the design and delivery of innovative, specialised training modules, including targeted programmes on victims of online fraud within the broader context of cyberviolence to be envisaged in the 2027 training offer.
These efforts contribute directly to the objectives of the revised Directive. The new rules strengthen the enforcement of victims’ rights across all areas, introducing improvements such as enhanced individual assessments, better access to justice, and stronger cooperation among relevant actors.
The new rules place particular emphasis on child victims, whose specific needs require an integrated and multidisciplinary approach. Moreover, the Directive ensures that criminal justice procedures are better adapted to vulnerable victims, supporting more responsive and inclusive systems.
The discussions represented a first step toward the effective implementation of these new rules. Ensuring proper training for professionals and raising awareness across the enforcement system will be essential to translating these commitments into practice.
Looking ahead, the forthcoming EU Strategy on Victims’ Rights, expected by the end of 2026, will help define concrete actions and priorities to ensure the revised Directive delivers tangible improvements for victims across the EU.
To discover EJTN’s training offer on topics related to victims’ rights, explore EJTN’s extensive Criminal Justice portfolio.
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