Call for proposals for action grants to support transnational projects to enhance the rights of persons suspected or accused of crime and the rights of victims of crime

Topic description

Scope:

The aims of this call are:

1. to contribute to the effective and coherent application of EU criminal law in the area of the rights of persons suspected or accused of crime (procedural rights priority);

2. to contribute to the effective and coherent application of EU criminal law in the area of the rights of victims of crime (victims' rights priority).

Priorities and activities to be co-financed

1. Priorities

1.1 Procedural Rights

The main priority areas include:

• implementation of Directive (EU) 2016/343 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on the strengthening of certain aspects of the presumption of innocence and of the right to be present at the trial in criminal proceedings;

• implementation of Directive (EU) 2016/800 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings;

• implementation of Directive (EU) 2016/1919 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on legal aid for suspects and accused persons in criminal proceedings and for requested persons in European arrest warrant proceedings; in this context project could also focus on Directive 2013/48/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2013 on the right of access to a lawyer in criminal proceedings and in European arrest warrant proceedings, and on the right to have a third party informed upon deprivation of liberty and to communicate with third persons and with consular authorities while deprived of liberty;

• procedural rights aspects in the context of European arrest warrant (EAW) proceedings under Framework Decision 2002/584/JHA of 13 June 2002 on the European arrest warrant and the surrender procedures between Member States;

• further development of EU policies and action in the field of procedural safeguards for suspects and accused persons.

1.2 Victims' Rights

The main priority areas include:

• implementation of Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime;

• implementation of Council Directive 2004/80/EC of 29 April 2004 relating to compensation to crime victims;

• implementation of Directive 2011/99/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the European protection order; and Regulation (EU) 606/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on mutual recognition of protection measures in civil matters;

• implementation of victims provisions of Directive (EU) 2017/541 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on combating terrorism and replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/475/JHA and amending Council Decision 2005/671/JHA;

• further development of EU policies and action in the field of victims' rights in particular regarding possible gaps in EU legislation.

2. Description of the activities

The following activities are eligible for both priorities:

• analytical activities, such as data collection, surveys, research activities, etc.;

• mutual learning, identifying and exchange of best practices, development of working methods which may be transferable to other participating countries;

• exchange and provision of information and development of information tools;

• capacity building for professionals;

• facilitating cooperation between competent authorities and agencies, legal practitioners and/or service providers (including multi-disciplinary networks at international, national, regional or local levels);

• communication activities including dissemination of information about the rights of victims or procedural rights and activities aimed at raising awareness of the existing rules at EU and national levels.

Training activities could also be funded under this call, as long as they are of ancillary nature and not the main purpose of the project.

Projects ensuring maximum practical benefits and impact for the target groups will be more favorably assessed than theoretical projects consisting mainly of research and other analytical activities.

The results of the projects shall be easily accessible to the public and widely disseminated.

Activities must take place in countries participating to the JUSTICE Programme to be eligible for funding (See eligibility criteria and Annex on Financial Provisions).

3. Expected results

3.1 Procedural Rights

• Increased capacity of national practitioners to address issues related to the rights of persons suspected or accused of crime;

• Strengthened cooperation and exchange of information between competent national authorities in relation to the rights of persons suspected or accused of crime;

• Improved knowledge on the legislation and administrative practices related to specific provisions of the EU acquis regulating the rights of suspects and accused in criminal proceedings;

• Harmonisation of the administrative practices in relation to the relevant legislation in different Member States;

• Reduced risks of breaches of fair trial rights;

• Compatibility of the national legal framework and regulations linked to the rights of persons suspected or accused in criminal proceedings with EU acquis;

• Improved cooperation of NGOs and professional organisations in the field of the rights of persons suspected or accused of crime.

• Increased awareness of the relevant policy makers on the rights of persons suspected or accused of crime.

3.2 Victims' Rights

• Increased capacity of national practitioners to address issues related to the rights of victims of crime;

• Improved cooperation among the competent national authorities, NGOs and professional organisations in the field of victims' rights;

• Improved public awareness and knowledge about victims' rights at both EU and national level;

• Improved knowledge about specific provisions of the EU acquis regulating the issues such as referring victims to the relevant support services, victims' access to information in the area of victims' rights, individual assessment of victims' needs.

• Compatibility of the national legal framework and administrative practice related to victims' rights with the relevant EU acquis;

• Increased number of victims' support organisations providing general and specialist support services to victims of crimes and their family members, in particular in those Member States who currently do not provide such services or provide them in insufficient manner;

• Increased quality of the services provided by victims support organisations;

• Enhanced cooperation among the relevant national authorities responsible for compensation in cross-border cases under the Directive on compensation (Council Directive 2004/80/EC of 29 April 2004 relating to compensation to crime victims).