The European Parliament has voted in the Plenary session on 14 December and approved the European Protection Order which seeks to ensure that victims of crimes including violence, harassment, homophobia or white slavery receive the same level of protection against their aggressors in all EU countries. While an agreement with the Belgian Presidency has already been reached, it must still be confirmed by a qualified majority of Member States in the Council.

Although protective measures for victims of violence are in force in all member states, these measures are not directly applicable in another member state when its beneficiary travels or moves to another country to the one where the measure was issued. Solving the issues raised by this type of situations was already among Parliament's priorities on freedom, justice and security in 2009, and are now targeted by the European Order of Protection.

In the vote on the European Order of Protection held at the European Parliament plenary session, the proposed text has been approved by 610 votes to 3 with 56 abstentions. According to the proposal, the Directive would grant protection to any victim who has been granted a protective measure in their country of origin, as is the case of restraining orders, whose aggressor has been identified. However, the text provides for a certain degree of discretion to the authorities to adopt any measure which they finds adequate and appropriate under national law.

A European Protection Order covering victims of all types of violence

Most protective measures are granted to women victims of gender violence, but the European Protection Order will cover all victims of crime, including children and adults of both sexes, who have suffered violence ans whose aggressor has been identified. This directive will apply to all victims, taking into account the specificities of each type of crime concerned.

A European Protection Order may only be issued if the aggressor is banned by the Member State of origin from places where the protected person resides or which they visit, or if restrictions are imposed on contact or approaches by the aggressor to the protected person. Furthermore, thanks to MEPs, a European Protective Order may also be requested to safeguard relatives of a beneficiary of a European Protection Order.

Once the directive is adopted, Member States will have three years to transpose it into national law.