EU Lawmakers Set Victims’ Rights Vote

The European Parliament will hold a press conference on May 20 ahead of a final vote on revised EU rules designed to strengthen protection and support for victims of crime. The briefing will take place at 11:15 CEST in Strasbourg and will also be available online.

The event will feature co-rapporteurs Lucia Yar and Javier Zárzalejos, along with Lina Gálvez, chair of Parliament’s Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee. They are expected to outline the results of negotiations on the revised Victims’ Rights Directive before a plenary debate and vote the following day.

The provisional agreement reached by Parliament and the Council in December 2025 introduces a victim-centred system for assessing individual needs and expands access to emotional support, legal aid and specialised services. It also proposes helplines available online, through mobile applications and via the EU-wide 116 006 telephone number.

The rules would make it easier to report crimes in person and online, including through civil society organisations, while strengthening child-friendly procedures and safeguards for vulnerable victims. The directive also addresses access to sexual and reproductive healthcare for survivors of sexual violence.