Justice

Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation

Your access to justice is a fundamental right. It is central to making your other rights a reality.

It protects rights of the individual. It puts right civil wrongs. It holds power to account. We shine a light on obstacles to access to justice. And we give evidence-based advice on overcoming them.

Highlights

  • Report / Paper / Summary
    7
    March
    2024
    Tackling greenwashing is an issue where human rights, consumer rights and climate goals align. Companies use greenwashing to convince people to buy products that are not always as environmentally friendly as they claim to be. They mislead consumers and harm the environment. This report shows how a human rights approach can combat greenwashing. It is based on consultations with experts in 10 Member States. The report identifies gaps in existing laws and enforcement. It includes case studies of consumers seeking remedies for misleading environmental claims. The EU and Member States should enforce rules that make it harder for companies to make misleading environmental claims. They should strengthen rules that make it easier for consumers to prove that companies are greenwashing. Consumer and environmental organisations already hold governments and business to account. Governments should make it easier to use collective action for the protection of consumer rights and the environment.
  • Report / Paper / Summary
    26
    March
    2024
    The European Arrest Warrant (EAW) allows Member States to implement judicial decisions issued in another Member State. It applies to decisions such as arrests for the purpose of criminal prosecutions or the execution of custodial sentences. After being in force for over 20 years, FRA’s findings provide evidence for an assessment of the legislation in practice. This report looks at the fundamental rights challenges that people face who are requested through an EAW. It provides a unique insight into their experiences and those of the professionals involved. FRA’s findings indicate that shared challenges exist across EU Member States. They must increase efforts to ensure that people are able to take part in criminal proceedings and receive a fair trial.
  • Report / Paper / Summary
    21
    June
    2022
    Every child has a right to be protected even when they are accused or suspected of committing a crime. The basic principles of justice apply to adults and children alike. But children face specific obstacles during criminal proceedings, such as a lack of understandable information about their rights, limited legal support and poor treatment. The report looks at the practical implementation of Directive (EU) 2016/800 on procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings in nine Member States – Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy, Malta, Poland and Portugal.
  • Handbook / Guide / Manual
    22
    June
    2016
    Access to justice is an important element of the rule of law. It enables individuals to protect themselves against infringements of their rights, to remedy civil wrongs, to hold executive power accountable and to defend themselves in criminal proceedings. This handbook summarises the key European legal principles in the area of access to justice, focusing on civil and criminal law.
    Publications and data
    27
    May
    2025
    This factsheet focuses on the European arrest warrant and EU Member States obligations to respect fundamental rights. EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights sometimes overlap. The publication clarifies where there are similar principles in different legislation and provides examples of case law. In collaboration, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights and the European Court of Human Rights produced this short publication. It is designed to aid lawyers and policymakers in understanding and applying the jurisprudence in this area. The 2025 version now contains recent case-law developments.
    10
    June
    2025
    This publication is an excerpt from the Fundamental Rights Report 2025, the annual report of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). It presents selected critical developments in fundamental rights in 2024, as well as the key findings and FRA opinions from the report’s chapters.
    10
    June
    2025
    The Fundamental Rights Report 2025 is the annual report of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). It provides an overview of the state of fundamental rights in the EU and highlights selected critical developments and trends in 2024. The report covers issues such as inclusive elections, gender-based violence, and the implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. It presents FRA’s opinions on these developments, setting out the actions that the EU and Member States should take. This annual publication is a valuable resource for those seeking to stay informed about the EU’s shifting landscape of fundamental rights.
    28
    November
    2024
    This paper outlines key challenges and solutions when it comes to promoting and protecting victims’ rights across the EU. It draws on FRA research over the past decade. It focuses on reporting crime, protection from secondary victimisation, victim support services. The paper highlights challenges and solutions in each of these areas, drawing directly from FRA’s published work. The challenges are based on the Agency’s data gathered from large-scale quantitative surveys of victims and in-depth qualitative research, including testimonies from victims and practitioners. The solutions draw from effective practices in various EU countries that address the practical needs of victims and improve their access to rights.
    25
    November
    2024
    This report presents key results of the EU gender-based violence survey based on data from all 27 Member States. The report focuses on the overall prevalence of physical violence or threats and/or sexual violence by any perpetrator, violence perpetrated by women’s intimate partners and by other people (non-partners) and women’s experiences of sexual harassment at work.
    30
    October
    2024
    This factsheet examines the "right to be forgotten" within the context of EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights. It emphasizes the intersections of these legal frameworks, with particular attention to case law from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
    1
    August
    2024
    Migrant workers are particularly at risk of labour exploitation. Workplace inspectors play a role in protecting non-EU workers' rights. This report guides inspectors to identify abuse and protect migrant workers. In autumn 2024, FRA will publish a manual with extensive resources to support workplace inspectors.
    18
    June
    2024
    This factsheet focuses on the European arrest warrant and EU Member States obligations to respect fundamental rights. EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights sometimes overlap. The publication clarifies where there are similar principles in different legislation and provides examples of case law. In collaboration, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights and the European Court of Human Rights produced this short publication. It is designed to aid lawyers and policymakers in understanding and applying the jurisprudence in this area.
    5
    June
    2024
    FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2024 analyses the year’s developments in fundamental rights. It focuses on the most pressing fundamental rights concerns facing Europe in 2023: the cost-of-living crisis, rights concerns at the EU’s external borders and migration, and threats to democracy. Re-structured, this year’s new approach is a shorter and sharper analysis. It also presents FRA’s opinions on these developments, including a summary of the evidence supporting these opinions.
    5
    June
    2024
    The year 2023 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of fundamental rights protection. FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2023 reviews developments in the field, identifying both achievements and remaining areas of concern. This publication presents FRA’s opinions on the main developments in the thematic areas covered and a synopsis of the evidence supporting these opinions. In so doing, it provides a compact but informative overview of the main fundamental rights challenges confronting the EU and its Member States.
    26
    March
    2024
    The European Arrest Warrant (EAW) allows Member States to implement judicial decisions issued in another Member State. It applies to decisions such as arrests for the purpose of criminal prosecutions or the execution of custodial sentences. After being in force for over 20 years, FRA’s findings provide evidence for an assessment of the legislation in practice. This report looks at the fundamental rights challenges that people face who are requested through an EAW. It provides a unique insight into their experiences and those of the professionals involved. FRA’s findings indicate that shared challenges exist across EU Member States. They must increase efforts to ensure that people are able to take part in criminal proceedings and receive a fair trial.
    20
    October
    2023
    FRA’s strategic priorities and objectives are based on the agency’s role and mission as defined in its amended founding regulation. They build on FRA’s 2018–2022 strategy as well as how it performed, its experience and its vision. Their design takes into account future fundamental rights challenges facing Europe, the agency’s mandate, the broader operational context and the resources available.
    8
    June
    2023
    FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2023 reviews major developments in the field in 2022, identifying both achievements and areas of concern. It also presents FRA’s opinions on these developments, including a synopsis of the evidence supporting these opinions.
    8
    June
    2023
    The year 2022 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of fundamental rights protection. FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2023 reviews major developments in the field, identifying both achievements and remaining areas of concern. This publication presents FRA’s opinions on the main developments in the thematic areas covered, and a synopsis of the evidence supporting these opinions.
    22
    February
    2023
    Directive 2012/29/EU represents a milestone in the development of victims’ rights. It establishes minimum standards for the rights, support and protection of victims of crime. It defines the scope of support services, guarantees the right to effective protection against secondary victimisation and comprehensively regulates the measures required for this purpose. This report covers three core components underpinning victims’ rights: support services, crime reporting, and protection from secondary and repeat victimisation. Examples highlight the relevant legal provisions in Member States and how specific rights under the Victims’ Rights Directive work in practice.
    28
    September
    2022
    Acts of terrorism represent a serious threat to the lives and safety of people, and a profound security challenge for states. At the same time, counter-terrorism legislation, policies and other measures can entail, directly or indirectly, serious limitations to fundamental rights, and can adversely affect individuals, groups and society as a whole. This summary presents FRA’s main findings from its report on Directive (EU) 2017/541 on combating terrorism, the main criminal law instrument at EU level in the field of counter-terrorism.
    21
    June
    2022
    Every child has a right to be protected even when they are accused or suspected of committing a crime. The basic principles of justice apply to adults and children alike. But children face specific obstacles during criminal proceedings, such as a lack of understandable information about their rights, limited legal support and poor treatment. The report looks at the practical implementation of Directive (EU) 2016/800 on procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings in nine Member States – Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy, Malta, Poland and Portugal.
    8
    June
    2022
    FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2022 reviews major developments in the field in 2021, identifying both achievements and areas of concern. It also presents FRA’s opinions on these developments, including a synopsis of the evidence supporting these opinions.
    8
    June
    2022
    This focus looks at the impact of the pandemic on social rights. It examines the measures in national recovery and resilience plans that address the social vulnerabilities among a variety of population groups in the EU, including women, children and young people in situations of vulnerability, people with disabilities, older people, Roma and people in precarious working conditions.
    Crime can touch any of us – as witnesses or as victims. But no matter who you are, we all have rights when it comes to justice. These three short clips show some aspects of working together for justice, rights of victims of crime and rights of witnesses of crime.
    We don’t all experience crime in the same way, and we might deal with it differently. But it’s vital – as victims or witnesses – that our rights are guaranteed, because access to justice is our fundamental right. Watch FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty speaking on the Fundamental Rights Survey report on crime, safety and victims’ rights.
    Crime can touch any of us – as witnesses or as victims. But no matter who you are, we all have rights when it comes to justice. It is for this reason that the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights asked 35,000 people across Europe about their experiences of crime in its Fundamental Rights Survey, and the results are in.
    This video was produced for the launch of the Fundamental Rights Survey in June 2020 and gives an overview of the main results.
    What are the next steps in the digitalisation of justice and of access to justice? This impulse video statement by FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty was recorded for the online conference “Access to Justice in the Digital Age”. The conference takes place on 16 July and is organised by the German Federal Ministry for Justice and Consumer Protection during the German Council Presidency.
    Check out the EU's modern human rights catalogue and its chapter about Justice.
    In the latest edition of his video blog, FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty speaks about the human rights challenges, but also the opportunities, that come along with the development of artificial intelligence technology.
    This handbook provides an overview of key aspects of access to justice in Europe.
    Opening Video for FRA event - From wrongs to rights: ending severe labour exploitation.
    Fundamental Rights Report 2019: In some Member States access to justice faces challenges. Judicial independence continues to cause
    concerns. Victims’ procedural rights need more effective implementation. Gaps in preventing
    violence against women and domestic violence remain.
    The Agency’s Director, Michael O’Flaherty, took part in a meeting of the European Parliament Employment Committee on 8 November.
    This infographic looks at ways to improve the implementation of various EU criminal justice laws on the right to information, interpretation and translation that apply to Member States to guarantee common EU-wide minimum standards for rights protection.
    This infographic looks at improving the implementation of the various EU criminal justice laws that apply to cross-border transfers, pre- and post- trial.
    The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the European Court of Human Rights launched a practical handbook on European law relating to access to justice at the Fundamental Rights Forum on 22 June 2016.
    Children should always be supported by a professional support person when they are involved in judicial proceedings, such as being at court. This could be, for example, a social worker or a legal counsellor.
    Children should always be supported by a professional support person when they are involved in judicial proceedings, such as being at court. This could be, for example, a social worker or a legal counsellor.
    During judicial proceedings, such as being at court, children should always be told what is going on. The information should be presented in a child-friendly and understandable way.
    On 19 May, attended a conference on new challenges associated with the development of AI and e-communication in the field of justice. FRA will publish a report providing guidance on digitalisation of justice in the autumn.
    The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has released an updated version of its online criminal detention database. The update contains national standards, laws and monitoring reports on detention conditions from across the European Union and the United Kingdom.
    FRA joined the high-level closing panel of the Paris Arbitration Week where they discussed the integration of human rights into economic law and policy and investment arbitration.
    FRA took part in the second Eurojust Annual Victims’ Rights Symposium. On 2 and 3 April in the Hague, Eurojust gathered around 50 judicial practitioners.
    FRA spoke during an ERA seminar on protecting victims of violence in the justice system. FRA covered the EU legal landscape on rights and presented its findings on protecting women and other victims of violence.
    FRA held an online information session on 29 January for public authorities on the findings of its paper on ‘Stepping up the response to victims of crime: FRA’s findings on challenges and solutions’.
    On 12 December, the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) convened a meeting with national Parliamentarians to discuss the situation of the rule of law in the EU.
    On 2 December, FRA presented the results of the EU survey on gender-based violence at the meeting of the Council of the European Union’s Fundamental Rights working party (FREMP).
    On 22 November, FRA participated in the Plenary event of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe in Brussels.
    On 26 September, FRA took part in the Roundtable and Steering Committee meeting of the joint child-friendly justice project. This is an initiative that started through partnership meetings between the Council of Europe, the European Commission and FRA to move towards more child-friendly justice systems.
    Each year, millions of people across the EU fall victims of crime but effective support and protection of their rights are often lacking. A new paper from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) examines the shortcomings of existing rights protection and offers possible ways forward.
    FRA contributed to an EU law training event for Hungarian administrative law judges. The FRA focus was on artificial intelligence (AI) and fundamental rights implications.
    Climate experts and child rights experts across Europe, NGOs, practitioners, academics, and children gathered for a meeting of European the Network of Child-friendly Justice. They discussed the diverse situations and challenges children encounter due to the impact of climate change while seeking access to justice and legal remedies.
    The European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection held a hearing on the draft directive for harmonised transparency of interest rules carried out on behalf of non-EU countries. Professor Emilia Korkea-Aho, the author of a study contracted by the Parliaments Policy Department presented her main findings.
    On 8 and 9 July, FRA delivered training during a seminar for defence lawyers organised by the European Academy of European Law (ERA) and co-financed by the EU.
    A factsheet on the European Arrest Warrant and fundamental rights is now available. The Registry of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and FRA prepared and published the factsheet.
    On 11 and 12 June, FRA took participated in a plenary meeting of the European Judicial Network. Over 100 judges and prosecutors from the EU Member States and some non-EU countries attended the meeting.
    The Council of Europe held a National Preventative Mechanisms Forum on 4 and 5 June in Strasbourg. FRA presented its Criminal Detention Database. It also participated in discussions on the detention of vulnerable people and migrants.
    FRA gave a plenary address during the first European Legal Tech Summit. The summit took place on 23 May in Vienna.
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    The European Commission and the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU will host the second plenary of the High-Level Forum on the Future of EU Criminal Justice.
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    On the first day of Victim Support Europe's annual conference, FRA will speak during a panel session exploring the effectiveness of international legal instruments in shaping victim support systems across Europe.
    On 10 April, a delegation of four judges from the Constitutional Court of Ukraine will visit the Agency. The OSCE Support Programme to Ukraine organised the visit.
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    FRA will present its work on victims’ rights and will chair a workshop on victims of online fraud during a Eurojust symposium.
    A delegation of judges from the Constitutional Court of Ukraine will visit the Agency on 10 April. This visit is organised by the OSCE Support Programme to Ukraine.
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    Eurostat working group on crime and criminal justice statistics will meet to discuss their data needs. They will collect input from various other European Commission Directorates-General.
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    The European Commission and the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union will host a High-Level Forum on the Future of EU Criminal Justice.
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    The European Judicial Training Network (EJTN) is organising training for the members of the judiciary on the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights.
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    FRA will present its work on the conditions of criminal detention during the Legal Experts Advisory Panel Annual Conference.
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    During the week of 27 January, FRA’s Director will have various speaking engagements and participate in several events during her visit to Poland.
    The EU Victims’ Rights Platform will meet on 18 November. The online meeting aims to discuss and synchronise ongoing and planned actions in relation to the challenges and opportunities related to the new technologies and victims’ rights.
    FRA will present its work relevant to the judiciary during the regular annual meeting of the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN) working group on Human Rights.
    FRA will present its project 'Digitalisation of justice: fundamental rights guidance' at a meeting of the Council's of the European Union’s e-justice Working Party.
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    FRA will present its latest research during training on procedural rights in criminal proceedings offered by the Academy of European Law (ERA).
    FRA will give a presentation to the Council of Europe’s Programme for Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP). It will present its tools and material on the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter during their annual network conference.
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    The European Judicial Training Network will hold a seminar at FRA from 18 to 19 April on applying the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
    Representatives from the Council of Europe, the European Commission and partner countries will meet on 19 March. They will launch their joint initiative on supporting Member States to make judicial proceedings more child-friendly across Europe nationally and locally.
    The new FRA Director, Sirpa Rautio, will take part in the meeting of Justice Ministers on 5 March. The FRA Director will join a session on the Council’s Conclusions on the European Commission’s annual report on the application of the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter. The conclusions are expected to be adopted at the meeting.

    Victim Support Europe will host an event to mark European Day for Victims of Crime. The ‘Leave no one behind: Victims’ Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals’ symposium aims to spotlight the connection between victims' rights and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).