VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE – THE EUROPEAN PROTECTION ORDER

By the time of reading, the Council should have adopted conclusions on "the eradication of violence against women in the EU", in line with a call from the European Parliament in 2009. One of the measures is a proposal for a directive establishing the European Protection Order, allowing victims of domestic violence to move to another EU Member State without losing the benefit of a protective measure (e.g. a non-molestation order) issued in the original Member State. The issue is complicated however, by the fact that such cases are variously treated as criminal, civil, or a hybrid, by the Member States. The Spanish Presidency is pushing for progress. See: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/09/st17/st17513.en09.pdf