Opening remarks were delivered by Eurojust Vice-President Margarita Šniutytė-Daugėlienė, Hilde Vandevoorde, National Member for Belgium at Eurojust and Chair of the Eurojust Working Group on Victims’ Rights, and Tommaso Chiamparino, European Commission Coordinator for Victims’ Rights.

Through case illustrations and practical examples, participants explored how rights such as the right to information and the right to participate in criminal proceedings can be effectively exercised in cross-border cases. Discussions covered a wide range of practical issues, including the payment of expenses for attendance at trial, access to translation, and participation in proceedings via video conference.

An estimated 15% of EU citizens – approximately 75 million people – fall victim to crime every year. In cross-border cases, the complexity of judicial cooperation can create additional practical challenges in ensuring that victims are able to effectively exercise their rights.

The symposium forms part of a broader series addressing the different situations practitioners may encounter when dealing with cross-border victims. Following last year’s discussions on the definition and identification of victims, this year’s edition focused on procedural rights, while a future symposium in 2027 will address compensation.

The meeting brought together prosecutors, practitioners and representatives of key partner organisations, including the European Commission, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), Europol, the European Judicial Network (EJN) and the European Network on Victims’ Rights.

The symposium builds on Eurojust’s broader work on victims’ rights, including the activities of its dedicated Working Group on Victims’ Rights. Ensuring victims’ rights is an important dimension of Eurojust’s operational work, particularly in cross-border cases where effective judicial coordination and cooperation are essential to addressing practical challenges and supporting national authorities in protecting victims’ rights.