Grote steun voor Spaans voorstel voor een Europees beschermingsbevel om slachtoffers van huiselijk geweld te beschermen (en)

Met dank overgenomen van Spaans voorzitterschap Europese Unie 1e helft 2010 i, gepubliceerd op vrijdag 4 juni 2010.

The Spanish Presidency of the EU's proposal to create a European arrest warrant for the protection of victims of domestic violence has been agreed after reaching a "political agreement", with the support of "18 states clearly in favour", explained the Spanish Minister of Justice, Francisco Caamaño, this Friday during the press conference held after the EU Council of Ministers of Justice.

"This has been a historical Justice Council", stressed Caamaño, who added that this measure has "placed the victims at the heart of Europe and, especially those women that suffer violence".

For the current President of the Council, the support of these 18 States means that "the qualified majority is guaranteed".

The proposal, which allows a protection order issued in one Member State to be extended to another Member State, in order to protect abused women when they move, will be sent to the European Parliament for discussion, and taken up again by the Belgian Presidency in the context of a conference on violence against women.

Directive on rights and procedural rights for translation and interpreting

The EU Council of Justice Ministers also agreed to the proposed directive on rights and procedural rights for translation and interpreting, and the setting in motion of an enhanced cooperation on laws applicable in the case of divorce or separation of international marriages.

The Council, which has been described as "historic" for the volume of proposals it has adopted and the quality of the proposed initiatives, also approved a negotiation mandate for the EU's adoption of the Human Rights Charter.

The proposed directive establishes the rights and procedural rights for translation and interpreting for detainees who do not speak the language of the country where they have been detained and who may therefore have their right to legitimate defence impaired.

In terms of the enhanced cooperation on matters of divorce laws, this is "the first time in the history of the EU" that this mechanism has been used at a legislative level. It allows 14 States to move forwards in the same direction and leaves the door open for the other states to join when they decide.