State Secretary Juro Martinović participated in an informal meeting of justice and home affairs ministers, organised by the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, which took place on 21 July in Logroño, Spain.
Among the topics discussed was the improvement of access to justice in the 21st century, with particular reference to persons with disabilities. The State Secretary pointed out that it would be useful at the level of the European Union to conduct more training on the specific needs of persons with disabilities, i.e. how to communicate in a clearer and understandable way and treat them correctly considering different types of disability.
Mechanisms to improve crime victims’ support and protection were also discussed. Crime victims’ support and protection i.e. the mechanisms to achieve this are among the most important elements of the judicial process. The Victims’ Rights Directive as a horizontal instrument, along with other EU-wide legal instruments relating to specific categories of victims, has largely achieved its objectives.
The ministers highlighted the need to encourage Member States to fully apply the provisions of the Victims’ Rights Directive in practice and to correct the shortcomings identified in practice by providing additional training, written instructions and interpretations of the provisions, in order for practitioners to harmonise and improve their practice.
Furthermore, one of the topics discussed was the emerging challenges and responses in the justice area with regard to the growing threat to Union citizens posed by organised crime. In this respect, and especially when it comes to new technologies used in criminal activities, it is first and foremost necessary to improve the existing system for investigating cryptocurrency transactions with better IT tools and training as well as the exchange of best practices.
Cooperation with banks and payment service providers is also necessary, and it is important to improve international cooperation and exchange of best practices among competent state institutions.
Photo: Pool PEUE/Miguel Toña
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