On the occasion of the European Day for Victims of Crime, on 22 February, Eurojust and the European Institute for Gender Equality released a joint report on the European Protection Order, EPO. The EPO is an instrument of mutual recognition designed to protect individuals who already benefit from national protection measures when they move to another Member Sate.

The report provides the latest information on the use and relevance of the EPO and the challenges and best practices related to its implementation. Based on a country-level online survey targeting representatives of the judiciary and victim support services, the report highlights that the EPO is little known among practitioners.

It also presents key policy recommendations to enhance the EPO’s effectiveness. These include increasing awareness and training for members of the judiciary, law enforcement agencies and support services; strengthening judicial cooperation by encouraging collaboration and communication among all involved parties; and further identifying and addressing legal and practical challenges by inviting practitioners to discuss issues in dedicated forums.