The revised Victim Rights Directive (Directive 2012/29/EU) – modernising the EU’s legal framework for the protection, support and rights of victims of crime – is expected to be soon published in the EU journal. EU Member States will then have two years to transpose the revised law.
The revision process took nearly 3 years. On 12 July 2023, the European Commission adopted a proposal to revise the Victims’ Rights Directive and 2,5 years later, the negotiators reached a political agreement on the revised text on 10 December 2025. It then still took 6 more months to get it formally adopted. On 8 of June, the EU Council adopted the revised Victims’ Rights Directive , after it had already indicated in February to proceed with formal adoption. Last month, also the EU parliament adopted the final text in plenary on 18 May, which passed with 440 votes in favour, 49 against and 84 abstentions. On 25 February 2026, the LIBE and FEMM Committees adopted the agreed text.
In her speech, rapporteur Lucia Yar (RENEW) highlighted that access to victims’ rights across Europe remains “deeply unequal”, and underlined key improvements brought by the revision, including the creation of support helplines, available both online and offline across the EU, and the recognition that victims of sexual violence may need access to sexual and reproductive healthcare.
Overall, the text of the Directive has been improved, nevertheless La Strada International would have liked to see more far-reaching changes. Earlier with PICUM we called for a clear firewall to prevent information disclosed when reporting a crime from being used for migration enforcement purposes. We also advocated for stronger references to third-party reporting, the granting of autonomous residence permits or other authorisation to stay to third-country nationals without legal residence, and more binding measures on compensation.
The Commission’s initial strong proposal for binding advance payments and on making it mandatory to address compensation within criminal procedures did not become mandatory, remaining optional.
What the revised Directive introduces
Key improvements include strengthened rights during criminal proceedings, legal aid for victims with insufficient means, and accelerated access to compensation. The Directive establishes a new EU-wide helpline (116 006) and introduces the possibility to report crimes online. It also facilitates third-party reporting through civil society organisations and ensures that people in immigration-related facilities or institutional care settings can effectively report a crime.
Further new provisions include specific support and healthcare access for victims of sexual violence, including emergency contraception, post-exposure prophylaxis, and access to abortion, as well as child-friendly and age-appropriate measures for child victims, including the possibility to receive medical examination, psychological support, and video-recorded testimonies within a single setting.
We will continue to advocate for the strongest possible implementation of the Directive at national level, and will monitor transposition closely across EU Member States.