poudarja pomen zagotavljanja ustrezne zaščite za primarne in sekundarne žrtve organiziranega kriminala, priče v sodnih postopkih, informatorje in prijavitelje nepravilnosti ter njihove družine; v zvezi s tem pozdravlja predlog Komisije o direktivi o določitvi minimalnih standardov na področju pravic, podpore in zaščite žrtev kaznivih dejanj, vseeno pa poziva k sprejetju zakonodaje na ravni EU, ki bo zajemala tudi priče v sodnih postopkih, informatorje in prijavitelje nepravilnosti ter njihove družine; poziva k enaki obravnavi vseh vrst žrtev (zlasti žrtev organiziranega kriminala in terorizma ter tistih, ki so bili ranjeni med opravljanjem svoje službe) ter da se zaščita prič v sodnih postopkih, informatorjev in prijaviteljev nepravilnosti ter njihovih družin razširi onkraj trajanja sodnega postopka; poudarja, da mladoletniki, če so žrtve organiziranega kriminala, potrebujejo posebno pozornost, obravnavo, zaščito, pomoč in vodenje; poziva Komisijo, naj pripravi jasne smernice za pomoč pričam v sodnih postopkih, informatorjem, prijaviteljem nepravilnosti in njihovim družinam, po katerih se tem osebam na evropski ravni prizna mednarodni pravni status in omogoči razširitev zaščite, do katere so te osebe upravičene znotraj držav članic, v primerih, ko za takšno zaščito zaprosi matična država informatorja, priče ali prijavitelja nepravilnosti; predlaga oblikovanje evropskega sklada za varovanje in pomoč za žrtve organiziranega kriminala in priče v sodnih postopkih, tudi preko podpore nevladnim organizacijam, ki se borijo proti mafiji in izsiljevanju in jih priznavajo države članice; pozdravlja, da so nekatere države članice sprejele zakonodajne predpise, namenjene izboljšanju zaščite prič in informatorjev v zadevah, povezanih z organiziranim kriminalom (na primer z dopuščanjem sodelovanja v sodni obravnavi na daljavo);
Stresses the importance of providing appropriate protection for primary and secondary victims of organised crime, court witnesses, informers, whistleblowers and their families; in this regard welcomes the Commission's proposal for a directive establishing minimum standards for the rights, support and protection of victims of crime but calls for EU legislation covering also court witnesses, informers, whistleblowers and their families; calls for all types of victim to be treated equally (in particular the victims of organised crime and of terrorism and those injured in the course of their duties) and for the protection of court witnesses, informers, whistleblowers and their families to be extended over and beyond the duration of the court proceedings; stresses that minors need special attention, treatment, protection, assistance and guidance when they are victims of organised crime; calls on the Commission to set out clear guidelines for assisting court witnesses, informers, whistleblowers and their families, according them European transnational legal status and extending any protection granted to them within the Member States, if so requested by the Member State of origin of the informers, witnesses or whistleblowers; proposes establishing a European fund to protect and assist victims of organised crime and court witnesses, including via support for nongovernmental anti-mafia and anti-racketeering associations recognised by Member States; welcomes the adoption by some Member States of legislative provisions designed to improve the protection of witness and informers in cases related to organised crime (e.g. by allowing the use of remote court hearings);