Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentleman who have been so patient. Talking about strengthening the position of crime victims is like relating a story with a happy ending. From the beginning, we met palpable resistance from many quarters, but now most people agree that this is something important and commendable. This applies to all the European institutions. We need to focus upon the victims’ perspective and upon strengthening their rights in the Union. People who make use of their freedom of movement should not have to be exposed to crime. If they do in fact become crime victims, they should at least not have to suffer twice and end up in a worse situation than citizens of the country concerned who are themselves crime victims. This applies irrespective of what the particular crime might be. The position of crime victims ought therefore to be strengthened on a number of levels. One can hardly talk about strengthening the position of crime victims without also talking about crime prevention measures. In November 1997, Parliament took the initiative and requested an action plan regarding preventive measures. An action plan of this kind was adopted by the Council in December 1998. These questions were highlighted again in Tampere in the autumn of 1999. We have embarked upon a new process. The best way of helping crime victims is, in fact, to ensure that no crimes are committed, but that cannot always be done in practice. The best way of preventing crime is to disseminate information. To be able to devise an effective crime prevention strategy, we need in fact to know what we are talking about. For example, there are still no definitions of the concepts of crime victim and organised crime. In addition to introducing crime prevention measures, the position of crime victims must be strengthened in more concrete terms once crimes have actually been committed. It is partly a question of making people more aware. Crime victims ought also to know to what rights and possible forms of aid they are in fact entitled. Most Member States have services which provide crime victims with some form of first aid. Travellers may, sometimes more than the local population, require various forms of specific aid. This may take the form of special measures including help with language and translations, as well as psychological help. The police, social services and non-governmental organisations of various kinds will, of course, be involved in providing these forms of aid. European cooperation has, in actual fact, already been devised and is in the process of development. In particular, the European Forum for Victim Services has developed sound guidelines relating to the position of crime victims. The Commission’s proposal involves introducing minimum standards for receiving crime victims with a view to being able to provide them with information and support where necessary. This is excellent. The police will play an important role because they are the point of first contact, and special training is often required in this connection. It is difficult for foreign crime victims to follow the legal proceedings at a distance, which is why special measures are also required to guarantee the legal position of foreign crime victims. Discussion of this issue began in the Commission during the last session under Commissioner Gradin of Sweden. The issue will be taken up again under the Swedish Presidency. In actual fact, this is, in a way, a story with a happy ending because there is quite a lot of agreement as to the objectives. Thinking European is often the same as moving Europe forward. In this case, we have common interests across party divides and national frontiers. There ought, therefore, to be good opportunities to think European. I therefore welcome the Commission’s communication and I want quite especially, of course, to thank Mrs Sörensen for her work on this report – a report we fully support. We shall then wish to urge the Commission to come back with directives. We hope for concrete action in the future. The necessary conditions are broadly present.

Political group: PPE-DE