Article 1, Point (21) · Directive (EU) 2026/1472

Contents

(21)the following articles are inserted in Chapter 5:‘Article 26aProtocols or guidelines for coordination and cooperation in the Member States1.Member States shall establish and implement specific protocols or guidelines, binding or non-binding in nature depending on national law, on the organisation of services and actions under this Directive of the competent authorities and persons coming in contact with victims. The protocols or guidelines shall be drawn up in coordination and cooperation with relevant stakeholders, such as central authorities, in accordance with the internal structure of, and division of competences in, the Member States, law enforcement, prosecution authorities, judicial authorities, detention authorities, restorative justice services and victim support services, in consultation with relevant professional organisations and civil society organisations, with a view to responding to the victims’ needs.The protocols or guidelines shall, as a minimum, provide general instructions on how:

(a)to provide to victims all the necessary information adapted to their needs in accordance with this Directive;

(b)Article 5a of this Directive is to be applied by the competent authorities;

(c)the individual assessment as referred to in Article 22 and provision of support services for victims with specific needs is carried out, taking into account the victims’ individual needs at different stages of the criminal proceedings;

(d)cooperation between general and specialist support services is carried out, including targeted and integrated support services for child victims as referred to in Article 9a.

2.Member States shall ensure that the protocols or guidelines referred to in paragraph 1 are reviewed where necessary to ensure their effectiveness, such as in the event of significant changes in national law.Article 26bUse of information and communication technologies1.Member States shall ensure that victims can exercise their rights provided for in Article 3a, Article 5(1) and Article 5a(1) insofar as online reporting is concerned, by means of information and communication technologies.2.Member States shall ensure that victims can exercise their rights provided for in Article 4(1), Article 5(3), Article 5a(6), Article 6(1), (2), (4), (5) and (6), and Article 10b by means of, where available, information and communication technologies in accordance with national law.3.Member States shall ensure that victims are not prevented, on the basis that they are residents of another Member State, from exercising their rights referred to in paragraph 1 by means of information and communication technologies.Member States shall ensure that victims are not prevented, on the basis that they are residents of another Member State, from exercising their rights referred to in paragraph 2 by means of information and communication technologies where such technologies are available in the Member States.4.Where national systems offering information and communication technologies require the use of electronic identification, signatures and seals, Member States shall allow the use of European Digital Identity Wallets, notified electronic identification schemes, qualified electronic signatures and qualified electronic seals of any other Member States as provided for in Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council^note.Article 26cRights of victims with disabilities1.Member States shall ensure that victims with disabilities benefit, on an equal basis with others, from the information and communication technologies referred to in Article 26b of this Directive by complying with the accessibility requirements set out in Annex I to Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council^note.2.Member States shall ensure that victims with disabilities can access, on an equal basis with others, any procedure, support service and protection measure falling within the scope of this Directive in accordance with the accessibility requirements set out in Annex I to Directive (EU) 2019/882.Member States shall ensure that reasonable accommodation and procedural accommodation is provided for victims with disabilities upon request.