WRITTEN QUESTION E-3268/01 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. The European Convention on the Compensation of Victims of Violent Crime.
Date: 2001-11-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European convention, Greece, crime, criminal procedure, enlargement of the Union, indemnification, public authorities, victim, violence

16.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/245

(2002/C 115 E/263)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3268/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(23 November 2001)

Subject: The European Convention on the Compensation of Victims of Violent Crime

The European Convention on the Compensation of Victims of Violent Crime has been in force since 1988.
Greece is one of the few EU countries which have signed the Convention but have yet to implement it: this
means that it has no system of State compensation for the victims of violent crime, which is one of the
basic objectives of the Convention.

Given that Greece has signed the Convention in question, will the Commission say:

1. Can the victims of violent crime within the meaning of the Convention apply for compensation, even

though no system of State compensation has yet been set-up?

2. Does it intend to ask the Member States or the EU applicant countries to ratify and implement the

Convention in question?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(8 January 2002)

The signature, as such, of the Convention to which the Honourable Member refers does not give victims of
violent crime the possibility to apply for state compensation.

In 1999, the Commission submitted a Communication to the Council, the Parliament and the Economic
and Social Committee entitled ‘Crime victims in the European Union 6 reflexions on standards and
action’ (1). One of
the
the recommendations of
Convention in question by all Member States.

this Communication related to the ratification of

As concerns compensations to crime victims by the offender, the Council framework decision of 15 March
2001 on the standing of victims in criminal proceedings requires that victims of criminal acts shall be
entitled to obtain a decision on compensation by the offender in the course of criminal proceedings.

In this context the Commission would also like to draw the attention of the Honourable Member to its
recently adopted Green Paper on compensation to crime victims (2). This paper launches a public
consultation on possible action to be taken, at Community level, for improving the possibilities for crime
victims to obtain compensations from the state. Potential actions outlined in the Paper include to establish
a minimum standard for state compensation in the Union and to facilitate access to state compensation in
cross-border situations. Following an analysis of the comments received on the paper, the Commission will
assess the possibility for presenting a legislative proposal during 2002.

(1) COM(1999) 349 final.
(2) COM(2001) 536 final.

(2002/C 115 E/264)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3274/01

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(20 November 2001)

Subject: Aquaculture development plans in Ireland

The Irish Government has announced funding of over € 73 million for aquaculture developments under
the National Development Plan 2000-2006. In a reply to a previous written question dated 30 March
2001, the Commission outlined that some € 25 million are being contributed by the EU via the FIFG in
the operational programmes for the same period.