September Newsletter
Category: News-General.
Posted: Friday 28 Sep 2012
Welcome to my September Report
Please find below my report to you for September. The report sets out my own work this month, the work of my Labour MEP colleagues and some wider EU issues which may be of interest.
You can now also follow me on twitter @ClaudeMoraesMEP
Claude Moraes MEP
Member of the European Parliament representing London.
Directive on Minimum Standards on the rights, support and protection of Victims of Crime
As the spokesperson for the Socialists and Democrats on Justice and Home Affairs, I was heavily involved in delivering the Directive on Minimum Standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime.As one of the MEPs who negotiated with Commissioner Reding and who visited the Commission with London constituent Maggie Hughes, I have tried to highlight the difficulties associated with victims of cross-border cases.
Maggie Hughes and her son Robert, who was a subject of a vicious attack in Greece in 2008, was used by European Commissioner Reding to highlight support for the adoption of this Report.I tabled amendments to this Report to ensure that its scope deals with victims support services both in the victims' own member state and in other member states should the need arise. This will allow victims' and their family members to access victim support services in cross-border situations similar to Maggie Hughes story. All crime victims will have the same basic rights across the EU, including an assessment of their specific needs, under this new directive.
This report guarantees a high level of protection and support to UK citizens who may find themselves victims of crime when travelling or working in another EU country. Victims of crimes committed abroad may face serious problems due to differences between cultures, languages and laws. The directive has tried to foster development of victim support services in each member state especially in areas with high tourism during summer months. The legislation ensures that all measures are taken to minimise the difficulties faced by UK citizens who become victims of crime. Among other rights, interpretation and translation services will also be made available to ensure that victims of crime can take an active part in any criminal proceedings in their own language.
The British Government is considering opting out of all EU policing and criminal law measures on 1 June 2014. If the Tories decide to opt out, British citizens would not have access to the crucial rights for victims of crime in the EU included in this report.
Read my full report for September here.
Posted by: Admin on Friday 28 Sep 2012
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