{ "attribution": { "source": "legal.exploreworldai.com", "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=eu:c-126-23", "cite_as": "NovaCopilot, legal.exploreworldai.com (https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=eu:c-126-23)", "license": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/revision", "version": "legal-2026-10-13", "fingerprint": "ewai:eu:a03983", "proof": "sha256:d0d56c7320d7091aaeb10d8c816c41ed3562bd214343216cfc9dd59b67de4329", "jurisdiction": "eu", "lang": "en", "publisher": "NovaCopilot by ExploreWorld Legal", "terms": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/om" }, "brand_source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "item": { "schema_version": "1.0.0", "id": "eu:c-126-23", "jurisdiction": "eu", "lang": "en", "brand_source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "brand": { "product": "NovaCopilot", "platform": "ExploreWorldAI", "infrastructure": "ExploreWorld Legal", "infrastructure_url": "legal.exploreworldai.com", "legal_entity": "Valkiv Ventures AB", "permanent_url": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/novacopilot", "source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "powered_by": "Powered by NovaCopilot", "license": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/licensvillkor" }, "sections": [ { "title": "62023CJ0126", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "JUDGMENT OF THE COURT (Fifth Chamber)", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "7 November 2024 (\n *1\n )", "paragraphs": [ "para_4" ] }, { "title": "In Case C‑126/23 [Burdene], (\n i\n )", "paragraphs": [ "para_6", "para_7", "para_8", "para_9", "para_10" ] }, { "title": "CA", "paragraphs": [ "para_12", "para_13", "para_14", "para_15", "para_16", "para_17", "para_18", "para_19", "para_20", "para_21", "para_22", "para_23", "para_24", "para_25", "para_26", "para_27", "para_28", "para_29", "para_30", "para_31", "para_32" ] }, { "title": "Judgment", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "1", "paragraphs": [ "para_35" ] }, { "title": "2", "paragraphs": [ "para_37" ] }, { "title": "Legal context", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "European Union law", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "3", "paragraphs": [ "para_42", "para_43" ] }, { "title": "(a)", "paragraphs": [ "para_45", "para_46" ] }, { "title": "Directive 2004/80/EC", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "4", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Recitals 5 and 10 of Directive 2004/80 are worded as follows:", "paragraphs": [ "para_50", "para_51", "para_52" ] }, { "title": "(10)", "paragraphs": [ "para_54" ] }, { "title": "5", "paragraphs": [ "para_56", "para_57", "para_58" ] }, { "title": "6", "paragraphs": [ "para_60", "para_61" ] }, { "title": "(a)", "paragraphs": [ "para_63" ] }, { "title": "(b)", "paragraphs": [ "para_65" ] }, { "title": "Directive 2012/29/EU", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "7", "paragraphs": [ "para_68", "para_69" ] }, { "title": "(a)", "paragraphs": [ "para_71" ] }, { "title": "(i)", "paragraphs": [ "para_73" ] }, { "title": "(ii)", "paragraphs": [ "para_75" ] }, { "title": "(b)", "paragraphs": [ "para_77", "para_78" ] }, { "title": "2.   Member States may establish procedures:", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "(a)", "paragraphs": [ "para_81" ] }, { "title": "(b)", "paragraphs": [ "para_83" ] }, { "title": "Italian law", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "8", "paragraphs": [ "para_86", "para_87", "para_88", "para_89", "para_90", "para_91" ] }, { "title": "9", "paragraphs": [ "para_93", "para_94" ] }, { "title": "The dispute in the main proceedings and the questions referred for a preliminary ruling", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "10", "paragraphs": [ "para_97" ] }, { "title": "11", "paragraphs": [ "para_99" ] }, { "title": "12", "paragraphs": [ "para_101" ] }, { "title": "13", "paragraphs": [ "para_103" ] }, { "title": "14", "paragraphs": [ "para_105" ] }, { "title": "15", "paragraphs": [ "para_107" ] }, { "title": "16", "paragraphs": [ "para_109" ] }, { "title": "17", "paragraphs": [ "para_111" ] }, { "title": "18", "paragraphs": [ "para_113" ] }, { "title": "19", "paragraphs": [ "para_115" ] }, { "title": "20", "paragraphs": [ "para_117" ] }, { "title": "21", "paragraphs": [ "para_119", "para_120", "para_121", "para_122" ] }, { "title": "(2)", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Regarding the limitation on the payment of compensation:", "paragraphs": [ "para_125", "para_126" ] }, { "title": "22", "paragraphs": [ "para_128" ] }, { "title": "23", "paragraphs": [ "para_130" ] }, { "title": "24", "paragraphs": [ "para_132" ] }, { "title": "25", "paragraphs": [ "para_134" ] }, { "title": "26", "paragraphs": [ "para_136" ] }, { "title": "27", "paragraphs": [ "para_138" ] }, { "title": "28", "paragraphs": [ "para_140" ] }, { "title": "29", "paragraphs": [ "para_142" ] }, { "title": "30", "paragraphs": [ "para_144" ] }, { "title": "31", "paragraphs": [ "para_146" ] }, { "title": "The first question", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "32", "paragraphs": [ "para_149" ] }, { "title": "33", "paragraphs": [ "para_151" ] }, { "title": "34", "paragraphs": [ "para_153" ] }, { "title": "35", "paragraphs": [ "para_155" ] }, { "title": "36", "paragraphs": [ "para_157" ] }, { "title": "37", "paragraphs": [ "para_159" ] }, { "title": "38", "paragraphs": [ "para_161" ] }, { "title": "39", "paragraphs": [ "para_163" ] }, { "title": "40", "paragraphs": [ "para_165" ] }, { "title": "41", "paragraphs": [ "para_167" ] }, { "title": "42", "paragraphs": [ "para_169" ] }, { "title": "43", "paragraphs": [ "para_171" ] }, { "title": "44", "paragraphs": [ "para_173" ] }, { "title": "45", "paragraphs": [ "para_175" ] }, { "title": "46", "paragraphs": [ "para_177" ] }, { "title": "47", "paragraphs": [ "para_179" ] }, { "title": "48", "paragraphs": [ "para_181" ] }, { "title": "49", "paragraphs": [ "para_183" ] }, { "title": "50", "paragraphs": [ "para_185" ] }, { "title": "51", "paragraphs": [ "para_187" ] }, { "title": "52", "paragraphs": [ "para_189" ] }, { "title": "53", "paragraphs": [ "para_191" ] }, { "title": "54", "paragraphs": [ "para_193" ] }, { "title": "55", "paragraphs": [ "para_195" ] }, { "title": "56", "paragraphs": [ "para_197" ] }, { "title": "57", "paragraphs": [ "para_199" ] }, { "title": "58", "paragraphs": [ "para_201" ] }, { "title": "59", "paragraphs": [ "para_203" ] }, { "title": "60", "paragraphs": [ "para_205" ] }, { "title": "61", "paragraphs": [ "para_207" ] }, { "title": "62", "paragraphs": [ "para_209" ] }, { "title": "63", "paragraphs": [ "para_211" ] }, { "title": "64", "paragraphs": [ "para_213" ] }, { "title": "65", "paragraphs": [ "para_215" ] }, { "title": "66", "paragraphs": [ "para_217" ] }, { "title": "67", "paragraphs": [ "para_219" ] }, { "title": "68", "paragraphs": [ "para_221" ] }, { "title": "Costs", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "69", "paragraphs": [ "para_224" ] }, { "title": "On those grounds, the Court (Fifth Chamber) hereby rules:", "paragraphs": [ "para_226", "para_227", "para_228", "para_229", "para_230" ] } ], "paragraphs": [ { "text": "62023CJ0126", "paragraph_id": "para_1" }, { "text": "JUDGMENT OF THE COURT (Fifth Chamber)", "paragraph_id": "para_2" }, { "text": "7 November 2024 (\n *1\n )", "paragraph_id": "para_3" }, { "text": "(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Directive 2004/80/EC – Article 12(2) – National schemes on compensation to victims of violent intentional crime – Homicide – Compensation for close family members of the deceased – Concept of ‘victim’ – ‘Tiered’ compens …", "paragraph_id": "para_4" }, { "text": "In Case C‑126/23 [Burdene], (\n i\n )", "paragraph_id": "para_5" }, { "text": "REQUEST for a preliminary ruling under Article 267 TFEU from the Tribunale Ordinario di Venezia (District Court of Venice, Italy), made by decision of 15 February 2023, received at the Court on 2 March 2023, in the proceedings", "paragraph_id": "para_6" }, { "text": "UD,", "paragraph_id": "para_7" }, { "text": "QO,", "paragraph_id": "para_8" }, { "text": "VU,", "paragraph_id": "para_9" }, { "text": "LO,", "paragraph_id": "para_10" }, { "text": "CA", "paragraph_id": "para_11" }, { "text": "v", "paragraph_id": "para_12" }, { "text": "Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri,", "paragraph_id": "para_13" }, { "text": "Ministero dell’Interno,", "paragraph_id": "para_14" }, { "text": "THE COURT (Fifth Chamber),", "paragraph_id": "para_15" }, { "text": "composed of I. Jarukaitis, President of the Fourth Chamber, acting as President of the Fifth Chamber, D. Gratsias and E. Regan (rapporteur), judges,", "paragraph_id": "para_16" }, { "text": "Advocate General: J. Richard de la Tour,", "paragraph_id": "para_17" }, { "text": "Registrar: C. Di Bella, Administrator,", "paragraph_id": "para_18" }, { "text": "having regard to the written procedure and further to the hearing on 21 February 2024,", "paragraph_id": "para_19" }, { "text": "after considering the observations submitted on behalf of:", "paragraph_id": "para_20" }, { "text": "–", "paragraph_id": "para_21" }, { "text": "QO and UD, by G. Sicchiero, avvocato,", "paragraph_id": "para_22" }, { "text": "–", "paragraph_id": "para_23" }, { "text": "LO and VU, by M.G. Bergamo, F. Sicchiero and G. Sicchiero, avvocati,", "paragraph_id": "para_24" }, { "text": "–", "paragraph_id": "para_25" }, { "text": "CA, by E. Pertile and G. Sicchiero, avvocati,", "paragraph_id": "para_26" }, { "text": "–", "paragraph_id": "para_27" }, { "text": "the Italian Government, by G. Palmieri, acting as Agent, and by E. De Bonis, S. Fiorentino and G. Palatiello, avvocati dello Stato,", "paragraph_id": "para_28" }, { "text": "–", "paragraph_id": "para_29" }, { "text": "the European Commission, by E. Montaguti and S. Noë, acting as Agents,", "paragraph_id": "para_30" }, { "text": "after hearing the Opinion of the Advocate General at the sitting on 8 May 2024,", "paragraph_id": "para_31" }, { "text": "gives the following", "paragraph_id": "para_32" }, { "text": "Judgment", "paragraph_id": "para_33" }, { "text": "1", "paragraph_id": "para_34" }, { "text": "This request for a preliminary ruling concerns the interpretation of Article 12(2) of Council Directive 2004/80/EC of 29 April 2004 relating to compensation to crime victims ( OJ 2004 L 261, p. 15 ) and Articles 20 and 21, Article 33(1) and Article 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.", "paragraph_id": "para_35" }, { "text": "2", "paragraph_id": "para_36" }, { "text": "The request has been made in proceedings brought by the parents, sister and children of a victim of homicide against the Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri (Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Italy) and the Ministero dell’Interno (Ministry of the Interior, Italy) concerning the compensation granted by the Italian State, due to the insolvency of the perpetrator of the homicide, for the harm they suffered as a result of that homicide.", "paragraph_id": "para_37" }, { "text": "Legal context", "paragraph_id": "para_38" }, { "text": "European Union law", "paragraph_id": "para_39" }, { "text": "Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA", "paragraph_id": "para_40" }, { "text": "3", "paragraph_id": "para_41" }, { "text": "Under Article 1 of Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA of 15 March 2001 on the standing of victims in criminal proceedings ( OJ 2001 L 82, p. 1 ), headed ‘Definitions’:", "paragraph_id": "para_42" }, { "text": "‘For the purposes of this Framework Decision:", "paragraph_id": "para_43" }, { "text": "(a)", "paragraph_id": "para_44" }, { "text": "“victim” shall mean a natural person who has suffered harm, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering or economic loss, directly caused by acts or omissions that are in violation of the criminal law of a Member State;", "paragraph_id": "para_45" }, { "text": "…’", "paragraph_id": "para_46" }, { "text": "Directive 2004/80/EC", "paragraph_id": "para_47" }, { "text": "4", "paragraph_id": "para_48" }, { "text": "Recitals 5 and 10 of Directive 2004/80 are worded as follows:", "paragraph_id": "para_49" }, { "text": "‘(5)", "paragraph_id": "para_50" }, { "text": "On 15 March 2001 the Council adopted Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA … This Decision, based on Title VI of the Treaty on the European Union, allows crime victims to claim compensation from the offender in the course of criminal proceedings.", "paragraph_id": "para_51" }, { "text": "…", "paragraph_id": "para_52" }, { "text": "(10)", "paragraph_id": "para_53" }, { "text": "Crime victims will often not be able to obtain compensation from the offender, since the offender may lack the necessary means to satisfy a judgment on damages or because the offender cannot be identified or prosecuted.’", "paragraph_id": "para_54" }, { "text": "5", "paragraph_id": "para_55" }, { "text": "Chapter II of that directive, entitled ‘National schemes on compensation’, contains Article 12, which reads as follows:", "paragraph_id": "para_56" }, { "text": "‘(1)   The rules on access to compensation in cross-border situations drawn up by this Directive shall operate on the basis of Member States’ schemes on compensation to victims of violent intentional crime committed in their respective territories.", "paragraph_id": "para_57" }, { "text": "(2)   All Member States shall ensure that their national rules provide for the existence of a scheme on compensation to victims of violent intentional crimes committed in their respective territories, which guarantees fair and appropriate compensation to victims.’", "paragraph_id": "para_58" }, { "text": "6", "paragraph_id": "para_59" }, { "text": "In Chapter III of that directive, headed ‘Implementing Provisions’, Article 17 thereof, headed ‘More favourable provisions’, provides:", "paragraph_id": "para_60" }, { "text": "‘This Directive shall not prevent Member States, in so far as such provisions are compatible with this Directive, from:", "paragraph_id": "para_61" }, { "text": "(a)", "paragraph_id": "para_62" }, { "text": "introducing or maintaining more favourable provisions for the benefit of victims of crime or any other persons affected by crime;", "paragraph_id": "para_63" }, { "text": "(b)", "paragraph_id": "para_64" }, { "text": "introducing or retaining provisions for the purpose of compensating victims of crime committed outside their territory, or any other person affected by such a crime, subject to any conditions that Member States may specify for that purpose.’", "paragraph_id": "para_65" }, { "text": "Directive 2012/29/EU", "paragraph_id": "para_66" }, { "text": "7", "paragraph_id": "para_67" }, { "text": "Article 2 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, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA ( OJ 2012 L 315, p. 57 ), stipulates:", "paragraph_id": "para_68" }, { "text": "‘1.   For the purposes of this Directive the following definitions shall apply:", "paragraph_id": "para_69" }, { "text": "(a)", "paragraph_id": "para_70" }, { "text": "“victim” means:", "paragraph_id": "para_71" }, { "text": "(i)", "paragraph_id": "para_72" }, { "text": "a natural person who has suffered harm, including physical, mental or emotional harm or economic loss which was directly caused by a criminal offence;", "paragraph_id": "para_73" }, { "text": "(ii)", "paragraph_id": "para_74" }, { "text": "family members of a person whose death was directly caused by a criminal offence and who have suffered harm as a result of that person’s death;", "paragraph_id": "para_75" }, { "text": "(b)", "paragraph_id": "para_76" }, { "text": "“family members” means the spouse, the person who is living with the victim in a committed intimate relationship, in a joint household and on a stable and continuous basis, the relatives in direct line, the siblings and the dependants of the victim;", "paragraph_id": "para_77" }, { "text": "…", "paragraph_id": "para_78" }, { "text": "2.   Member States may establish procedures:", "paragraph_id": "para_79" }, { "text": "(a)", "paragraph_id": "para_80" }, { "text": "to limit the number of family members who may benefit from the rights set out in this Directive taking into account the individual circumstances of each case; and", "paragraph_id": "para_81" }, { "text": "(b)", "paragraph_id": "para_82" }, { "text": "in relation to paragraph (1)(a)(ii), to determine which family members have priority in relation to the exercise of the rights set out in this Directive.’", "paragraph_id": "para_83" }, { "text": "Italian law", "paragraph_id": "para_84" }, { "text": "8", "paragraph_id": "para_85" }, { "text": "Article 11 of legge n. 122 – Disposizioni per l’adempimento degli obblighi derivanti dall’appartenenza dell’Italia all’Unione europea – Legge europea 2015-2016 (Law No 122 laying down provisions to comply with the obligations arising from Italy’s membership of the European Union – European Law 2015- …", "paragraph_id": "para_86" }, { "text": "‘1.   Without prejudice to more favourable benefits in favour of the victims of crimes provided for by other provisions of law, the right to compensation provided by the State is recognised for the victim of a violent intentional crime and in any case of the crime referred to in Article 603- bis of …", "paragraph_id": "para_87" }, { "text": "2.   Compensation for crimes of homicide, sexual assault or grievous bodily harm, in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 583 of the Criminal Code … shall be awarded to the victim or the beneficiaries listed in paragraph 2‑ bis , to the extent determined by the decree referred to in paragraph 3. For offences other than those referred to in the first sentence, compensation shall be paid for the reimbursement of medical and welfare expenses.", "paragraph_id": "para_88" }, { "text": "2‑ bis    In the event of the death of the victim as a consequence of the crime, compensation is paid to the surviving spouse and children; in the absence of the spouse and children, compensation is paid to the parents and, in the absence of the parents, to the siblings who were cohabiting and dependants at the time the crime was committed. …", "paragraph_id": "para_89" }, { "text": "2‑ ter    In the event of several rightful claimants, the compensation shall be apportioned according to the quotas provided for in the provisions of Title II of Book Two of the codice civile [(Civil Code)].", "paragraph_id": "para_90" }, { "text": "3.   The amounts of compensation shall be determined by decree of the Ministro dell’interno [(Minister for the Interior, Italy)] and Ministro della giustizia [(Minister for Justice, Italy)], in agreement with the Ministro dell’economia e delle finanze [(Minister for the Economy and Finance, Italy)], …", "paragraph_id": "para_91" }, { "text": "9", "paragraph_id": "para_92" }, { "text": "Adopted to implement Article 11(3) of Law No 122/2016, Article 1(1)(b) of decreto ministeriale – Determinazione degli importi dell’indennizzo alle vittime dei reati intenzionali violenti (Ministerial Decree on the determination of the amounts of compensation payable to the victims of violent intentional crimes) of 22 November 2019 (GURI No 18 of 23 January 2020, p. 9; ‘the Implementing Ministerial Decree’) provides:", "paragraph_id": "para_93" }, { "text": "‘in the case of homicide committed by a spouse, including a separated or divorced spouse, or by a person who is or was linked by emotional ties to the victim: the fixed amount of EUR 60000 exclusively for the victim’s children.’", "paragraph_id": "para_94" }, { "text": "The dispute in the main proceedings and the questions referred for a preliminary ruling", "paragraph_id": "para_95" }, { "text": "10", "paragraph_id": "para_96" }, { "text": "On 18 September 2018, the Tribunale di Padova (District Court, Padua, Italy) sentenced the perpetrator of the homicide of his ex-partner, in Italy, to a term of imprisonment of 30 years, and ordered that he should pay a provisional sum of compensation to the members of the victim’s family, who were …", "paragraph_id": "para_97" }, { "text": "11", "paragraph_id": "para_98" }, { "text": "In accordance with the national legislation, as the perpetrator of the homicide had no assets or income and had been granted free legal aid, the Italian State paid, to the two children only, EUR 20000 each in compensation, while the separated husband was granted compensation of EUR 16 666.66.", "paragraph_id": "para_99" }, { "text": "12", "paragraph_id": "para_100" }, { "text": "On 1 February 2022, the applicants in the main proceedings, namely the victim’s parents, sister and children, believing that Law No 122/2016 had introduced significant limitations on the provision of compensation to the victims of violent intentional crime, in breach of Directive 2004/80, brought proceedings before the Tribunale Ordinario di Venezia (District Court, Venice, Italy), the referring court.", "paragraph_id": "para_101" }, { "text": "13", "paragraph_id": "para_102" }, { "text": "By their applications, the applicants in the main proceedings claim that the referring court should, after disapplying the Implementing Ministerial Decree as unlawful, determine the ‘fair and appropriate’ amount of compensation to be paid to them in view of the degree of their relationship to the ho …", "paragraph_id": "para_103" }, { "text": "14", "paragraph_id": "para_104" }, { "text": "In the first place, the applicants in the main proceedings claim that the limit established in Article 11(2- bis ), of Law No 122/2016 – which grants the right to compensation to the victim’s parents only in the absence of a surviving spouse and children of the victim, while siblings are entitled to …", "paragraph_id": "para_105" }, { "text": "15", "paragraph_id": "para_106" }, { "text": "In the second place, the applicants in the main proceedings submit that the amount of EUR 20000 awarded to the victim’s children pursuant to the Implementing Ministerial Decree, which corresponds to 5% of the provisional amount awarded by court order, does not seem to be in line with the position of …", "paragraph_id": "para_107" }, { "text": "16", "paragraph_id": "para_108" }, { "text": "In the third place, the applicants in the main proceedings believe that the national provisions are also unlawful in that they make the payment of compensation conditional on the State having set aside sufficient funds to award the compensation, in breach of recital 10 of Directive 2004/80.", "paragraph_id": "para_109" }, { "text": "17", "paragraph_id": "para_110" }, { "text": "The Italian authorities have pointed out, as regards the children, that the determination of the compensation was made in full compliance with the provisions in force, taking into account the surviving spouse’s source of income. They also note that the Court, after having stated in paragraph 58 of t …", "paragraph_id": "para_111" }, { "text": "18", "paragraph_id": "para_112" }, { "text": "The referring court considers that in order to assess the merits of the request for damages in the case before it, which is based on the incorrect implementation of Directive 2004/80, it must be first established whether the national provisions, as set out in Article 11(2- bis ), (2- ter ) and (3) of Law No 122/2016, comply with EU law.", "paragraph_id": "para_113" }, { "text": "19", "paragraph_id": "para_114" }, { "text": "That court points out that those national provisions – which make the payment of compensation, even where a final judgment establishes, in favour of certain members of the family, a right to compensation for the harm they have suffered and the amount of that compensation, conditional, as regards the …", "paragraph_id": "para_115" }, { "text": "20", "paragraph_id": "para_116" }, { "text": "Furthermore, as regards the surviving spouse and children, that court notes that the extent of the harm suffered is not taken into account. Consequently, in the present case, no significance was attached to the fact that the surviving spouse had been separated from the victim for some time, with pro …", "paragraph_id": "para_117" }, { "text": "21", "paragraph_id": "para_118" }, { "text": "In those circumstances the Tribunale Ordinario di Venezia (District Court, Venice) decided to stay the proceedings and to refer the following questions to the Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling:", "paragraph_id": "para_119" }, { "text": "‘(1)", "paragraph_id": "para_120" }, { "text": "Regarding the provision of Article 11, paragraph 2- bis , of [Law No 122/2016], which makes the payment of compensation to the parents and sister of a [homicide] victim subject to the victim having no spouse and children, even in the presence of a final judgment quantifying in their favour the right to compensation for the damage suffered and making the perpetrator liable to pay such compensation:", "paragraph_id": "para_121" }, { "text": "In the case of [homicide], does the fact that the payment of compensation laid down for the parents and sister of a victim of violent intentional crimes by Article 11, paragraph 2- bis of [Law No 122/2016] is subject to the victim having no children or spouse (as regards the parents) and no parents …", "paragraph_id": "para_122" }, { "text": "(2)", "paragraph_id": "para_123" }, { "text": "Regarding the limitation on the payment of compensation:", "paragraph_id": "para_124" }, { "text": "Can the condition attached to the payment of the compensation provided for in [Article 11(3)] of Law No 122/2016, which states “in any event within the limits of the availability of the [Solidarity Fund]”, without any provision requiring the Italian State to make specific provision for the compensat …", "paragraph_id": "para_125" }, { "text": "The Court’s jurisdiction and the admissibility of the questions referred for a preliminary ruling", "paragraph_id": "para_126" }, { "text": "22", "paragraph_id": "para_127" }, { "text": "The Italian Government questions the jurisdiction of the Court and the admissibility of the questions referred for a preliminary ruling, since the dispute in the main proceedings concerns a situation that does not fall within the scope of Directive 2004/80. The referring court did not examine whethe …", "paragraph_id": "para_128" }, { "text": "23", "paragraph_id": "para_129" }, { "text": "Furthermore, the Italian government and the European Commission submit that the second question is inadmissible. The order for reference does not contain any information from which it can be determined whether the condition relating to the financial capacity of the Solidarity Fund provided for by na …", "paragraph_id": "para_130" }, { "text": "24", "paragraph_id": "para_131" }, { "text": "As regards, in the first place, the jurisdiction of the Court to answer the questions referred for a preliminary ruling, it must be recalled that, in accordance with Article 267 TFEU, the Court has jurisdiction to interpret acts of the institutions, bodies, offices or agencies of the European Union.", "paragraph_id": "para_132" }, { "text": "25", "paragraph_id": "para_133" }, { "text": "In those circumstances, since the two questions referred for a preliminary ruling by the referring court concern the interpretation of Directive 2004/80, in particular Article 12(2) thereof, the Court has jurisdiction to answer those questions.", "paragraph_id": "para_134" }, { "text": "26", "paragraph_id": "para_135" }, { "text": "As regards, in the second place, the admissibility of those questions, it should be borne in mind that, according to settled case-law, questions on the interpretation of EU law referred by a national court in the factual and legislative context which that court is responsible for defining, the accur …", "paragraph_id": "para_136" }, { "text": "27", "paragraph_id": "para_137" }, { "text": "As regards the first question, it is sufficient to note that the question whether, in the case of homicide, the concept of ‘victims’, within the meaning of Article 12(2) of Directive 2004/80, must be capable of including the close family members of the person who died as a result of the violent intentional crime concerns the substance of the question referred and not its admissibility.", "paragraph_id": "para_138" }, { "text": "28", "paragraph_id": "para_139" }, { "text": "As regards the second question, it should be recalled that, by that question, the referring court seeks, in essence, to ascertain whether Article 12(2) of Directive 2004/80 must be interpreted as precluding legislation of a Member State which provides that the compensation granted by that Member Sta …", "paragraph_id": "para_140" }, { "text": "29", "paragraph_id": "para_141" }, { "text": "It should be noted that there is nothing in the order for reference or the observations submitted to the Court to show that that ceiling had any effect on the amount of compensation awarded in the main proceedings by the Italian State. Furthermore, although, as is apparent from paragraph 20 above, t …", "paragraph_id": "para_142" }, { "text": "30", "paragraph_id": "para_143" }, { "text": "In those circumstances, it must be held that the second question is hypothetical and, therefore, inadmissible.", "paragraph_id": "para_144" }, { "text": "31", "paragraph_id": "para_145" }, { "text": "It is therefore necessary to answer only the first question.", "paragraph_id": "para_146" }, { "text": "The first question", "paragraph_id": "para_147" }, { "text": "32", "paragraph_id": "para_148" }, { "text": "By its first question, the referring court asks, in essence, whether Article 12(2) of Directive 2004/80 must be interpreted as precluding legislation of a Member State which provides for a scheme on compensation for violent intentional crimes that, in the case of homicide, makes the right to compens …", "paragraph_id": "para_149" }, { "text": "33", "paragraph_id": "para_150" }, { "text": "It should be borne in mind that, under Article 12(2) of Directive 2004/80, all Member States are required to ensure that their national rules provide for the existence of a scheme on compensation to victims of violent intentional crimes committed in their respective territories, which guarantees fair and appropriate compensation to those victims.", "paragraph_id": "para_151" }, { "text": "34", "paragraph_id": "para_152" }, { "text": "As is apparent from the judgment of 16 July 2020, Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri ( C‑129/19 , EU:C:2020:566 , paragraphs  41 to  45 and  52 ), that provision therefore imposes on each Member State the obligation to provide a scheme on compensation to victims of violent intentional crimes comm …", "paragraph_id": "para_153" }, { "text": "35", "paragraph_id": "para_154" }, { "text": "In order to answer the question referred, it is necessary, first of all, to determine whether, in the event of homicide, the ‘victims’ of the violent intentional crime for whose benefit the Member States must establish, pursuant to Article 12(2) of Directive 2004/80, a national scheme on compensatio …", "paragraph_id": "para_155" }, { "text": "36", "paragraph_id": "para_156" }, { "text": "As regards, in the first place, the concept of ‘victims’, within the meaning of Article 12(2) of Directive 2004/80, since neither that provision nor that directive contains a definition of that concept and that provision makes no reference to national law as regards the meaning to be given to it, th …", "paragraph_id": "para_157" }, { "text": "37", "paragraph_id": "para_158" }, { "text": "As regards, first, the usual meaning of the term ‘victims’ in everyday language, it must be stated that it may be understood as covering both persons who have themselves been subjected to violent intentional crime, as direct victims, and their close family members where those family members suffer, in turn, the consequences of that crime, as indirect victims.", "paragraph_id": "para_159" }, { "text": "38", "paragraph_id": "para_160" }, { "text": "As regards, second, the objective pursued by Article 12(2) of Directive 2004/80, it must be borne in mind that that provision is intended to guarantee to Union citizens the right to fair and appropriate compensation for the injuries they suffer on the territory of the Member State in which they find …", "paragraph_id": "para_161" }, { "text": "39", "paragraph_id": "para_162" }, { "text": "Although the Member States have, in principle, the competence to define the scope of the concept of violent intentional crime in their domestic law, that competence does not, however, permit them to limit the scope of the compensation scheme for victims, which the Member States must introduce in acc …", "paragraph_id": "para_163" }, { "text": "40", "paragraph_id": "para_164" }, { "text": "It must be held that, if the concept of ‘victims’, within the meaning of Article 12(2) of Directive 2004/80, were to be interpreted, as the Italian Government submits, as including exclusively within the scope ratione personae of that provision direct victims of violent intentional crime, the offences constituting such crime which led to the death of the direct victim would fall outside the scope ratione materiae of that provision, in disregard of its objective.", "paragraph_id": "para_165" }, { "text": "41", "paragraph_id": "para_166" }, { "text": "According to the interpretation of Article 12(2) of Directive 2004/80 advocated by the Italian Government, in the event of homicide, the Member State concerned is not required to pay any compensation under the national scheme on compensation which that provision requires it to establish, since, in s …", "paragraph_id": "para_167" }, { "text": "42", "paragraph_id": "para_168" }, { "text": "Such an interpretation would deprive Article 12(2) of Directive 2004/80 of much of its practical effect, since it would require the Member States to establish a national scheme of compensation for violent intentional crime only where the direct victim of that crime survives his or her injuries, but not when that person dies as a result of those injuries.", "paragraph_id": "para_169" }, { "text": "43", "paragraph_id": "para_170" }, { "text": "In that regard, it should also be noted that the Proposal for a Council Directive relating to compensation to crime victims (COM(2002) 562 final) ( OJ 2003 C 45 E, p. 69 ), which sought not only to facilitate access to such compensation in situations where the crime was committed in a Member State o …", "paragraph_id": "para_171" }, { "text": "44", "paragraph_id": "para_172" }, { "text": "Although that clarification does not appear in Directive 2004/80, it is apparent, however, from the travaux préparatoires for that directive, in particular the compromise proposal submitted by the Presidency of the Council on 26 March 2004 (Document 7752/04), that this is due solely to the fact that …", "paragraph_id": "para_173" }, { "text": "45", "paragraph_id": "para_174" }, { "text": "Third, that interpretation is consistent with the context of Article 12(2) of Directive 2004/80.", "paragraph_id": "para_175" }, { "text": "46", "paragraph_id": "para_176" }, { "text": "It should be noted that Directive 2012/29, which concerns, inter alia, the protection of victims of crime, defines the concept of ‘victims’ in Article 2(1)(a) as including, in addition to persons who have themselves suffered harm directly caused by a criminal offence, family members of a person whos …", "paragraph_id": "para_177" }, { "text": "47", "paragraph_id": "para_178" }, { "text": "According to the travaux préparatoires relating to Directive 2012/29, as set out in the explanatory memorandum concerning the proposal of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime (COM(2011) 275 final, p. 7), t …", "paragraph_id": "para_179" }, { "text": "48", "paragraph_id": "para_180" }, { "text": "It must be held that the definition of the concept of ‘victims’ set out in Article 2(1)(a) of Directive 2012/29 clarifies the scope of that concept as it appears in Article 12(2) of Directive 2004/80. As the Commission pointed out on page 3 of the explanatory memorandum cited in the preceding paragr …", "paragraph_id": "para_181" }, { "text": "49", "paragraph_id": "para_182" }, { "text": "However, at the hearing, the Italian Government argued that recital 5 of Directive 2004/80 refers not to Directive 2012/29, which was adopted after Directive 2004/80, but to Framework Decision 2001/220, which, although replaced by Directive 2012/29, was the act in force when Directive 2004/80 was ad …", "paragraph_id": "para_183" }, { "text": "50", "paragraph_id": "para_184" }, { "text": "First, it must be observed that that line of argument is based on the incorrect premiss that the definition of the concept of ‘victim’ in Article 1(a) of Framework Decision 2001/220 already necessarily excluded indirect victims of a criminal offence. While it is true that that provision required, fo …", "paragraph_id": "para_185" }, { "text": "51", "paragraph_id": "para_186" }, { "text": "Second, as the Advocate General stated in point 40 of his Opinion, that line of argument, in so far as it concerns the legal basis of Directive 2012/29, is irrelevant, since, as noted in paragraph 48 above, that directive is intended to lay down the general framework of EU law applicable to victims of crime.", "paragraph_id": "para_187" }, { "text": "52", "paragraph_id": "para_188" }, { "text": "To that extent, the definition of ‘victim’ in Article 2(1)(a) of Directive 2012/29 must be understood as being intended solely to clarify the scope of the definition set out in Article 1(a) of Framework Decision 2001/220, to which Directive 2004/80 referred. That definition does not therefore alter the scope of the concept of ‘victim’, as set out in Article 12(2) of Directive 2004/80.", "paragraph_id": "para_189" }, { "text": "53", "paragraph_id": "para_190" }, { "text": "Nor can the interpretation set out in paragraphs 38 to 48 above be called into question, contrary to what the Italian Government claims, by Article 17 of Directive 2004/80, according to which Member States may introduce or maintain more favourable provisions, not only for ‘victims’ of crime but also …", "paragraph_id": "para_191" }, { "text": "54", "paragraph_id": "para_192" }, { "text": "Article 17 of Directive 2004/80, which forms part of Chapter III of that directive relating to the implementing provisions, thus allows Member States, when implementing their national scheme on compensation for victims of violent intentional crime, to extend the category of beneficiaries of that scheme to persons other than ‘victims’, within the meaning of Article 12(2) of that directive.", "paragraph_id": "para_193" }, { "text": "55", "paragraph_id": "para_194" }, { "text": "It must therefore be held that the concept of ‘victims’, within the meaning of that provision, for the benefit of whom the Member States must establish, under that provision, a national scheme on compensation, must be understood as being capable of including indirect victims of a violent intentional crime, such as the close family members of the person who died as a result of that crime, where they suffer, indirectly, the consequences of that crime.", "paragraph_id": "para_195" }, { "text": "56", "paragraph_id": "para_196" }, { "text": "In those circumstances, it is necessary, in the second place, to examine whether national legislation which, in the event of homicide, makes the right to compensation of the parents of the deceased person as a result of an act constituting violent intentional crime conditional upon the absence of a …", "paragraph_id": "para_197" }, { "text": "57", "paragraph_id": "para_198" }, { "text": "In that regard, it should be recalled that, having regard, first, to the margin of discretion conferred on the Member States by that provision as regards both the ‘fair and appropriate’ nature of the amount of compensation to victims of violent intentional crime and the detailed rules for determinin …", "paragraph_id": "para_199" }, { "text": "58", "paragraph_id": "para_200" }, { "text": "In that context, it is ultimately for the national court to ensure, with regard to the national provisions establishing the compensation scheme concerned, that the sum awarded to a victim of violent intentional crime pursuant to that scheme is ‘fair and appropriate compensation’, within the meaning of Article 12(2) of Directive 2004/80 (judgment of 16 July 2020, Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri, C‑129/19 , EU:C:2020:566 , paragraph  61 ).", "paragraph_id": "para_201" }, { "text": "59", "paragraph_id": "para_202" }, { "text": "However, a Member State would exceed its discretion under that provision if the national provisions provided compensation to victims of violent intentional crime that was purely symbolic or manifestly insufficient having regard to the seriousness of the consequences, for those victims, of the crime committed (judgment of 16 July 2020, Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri, C‑129/19 , EU:C:2020:566 , paragraph  63 ).", "paragraph_id": "para_203" }, { "text": "60", "paragraph_id": "para_204" }, { "text": "Since the compensation granted to such victims represents a contribution to the reparation of material and non-material losses suffered by them, such a contribution may be regarded as ‘fair and appropriate’ only if it compensates, to an appropriate extent, the suffering to which those victims have been exposed (see, to that effect, judgment of 16 July 2020, Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri, C‑129/19 , EU:C:2020:566 , paragraph  64 ).", "paragraph_id": "para_205" }, { "text": "61", "paragraph_id": "para_206" }, { "text": "Consequently, although that contribution may result from a national scheme providing for fixed rate compensation to victims of violent intentional crime capable of being varied in accordance with the nature of the violence suffered, the compensation scale must nevertheless be sufficiently detailed, …", "paragraph_id": "para_207" }, { "text": "62", "paragraph_id": "para_208" }, { "text": "Accordingly, in order to be classified as ‘fair and appropriate’, within the meaning of Article 12(2) of Directive 2004/80, a fixed rate of compensation awarded under the national scheme of compensation to victims of violent intentional crime must be fixed taking into account the seriousness of the …", "paragraph_id": "para_209" }, { "text": "63", "paragraph_id": "para_210" }, { "text": "In the light of those considerations, it must be held that the Member States may, in the exercise of their discretion, decide, as the Italian Republic has done in the present case, to establish a national scheme on compensation for victims of violent intentional crime which limits the benefit of tha …", "paragraph_id": "para_211" }, { "text": "64", "paragraph_id": "para_212" }, { "text": "Such a ‘tiered’ approach corresponds, moreover, to that expressly referred to in Article 2(2) of Directive 2012/29, which allows Member States to establish procedures to limit the number of family members who may benefit from the rights set out in that directive taking into account the individual circumstances of each case.", "paragraph_id": "para_213" }, { "text": "65", "paragraph_id": "para_214" }, { "text": "However, a national scheme on compensation for victims of violent intentional crime cannot, in accordance with the logic of succession, automatically exclude certain family members from entitlement to all compensation solely because of the presence of other family members, without it being possible …", "paragraph_id": "para_215" }, { "text": "66", "paragraph_id": "para_216" }, { "text": "In particular, depriving certain family members, as a rule, of any compensation must be regarded as irreconcilable with such requirements where, as in the case in the main proceedings, a criminal court has awarded those family members compensation, which is, moreover, not insignificant, for the harm …", "paragraph_id": "para_217" }, { "text": "67", "paragraph_id": "para_218" }, { "text": "It follows that, as the Advocate General stated in point 47 of his Opinion, a national scheme on compensation for victims of violent intentional crime, such as that at issue in the main proceedings, under which victims are excluded without any regard for the extent of the harm they have suffered, on …", "paragraph_id": "para_219" }, { "text": "68", "paragraph_id": "para_220" }, { "text": "Consequently, the answer to the first question referred is that Article 12(2) of Directive 2004/80 must be interpreted as precluding legislation of a Member State which provides for a scheme on compensation for violent intentional crimes that, in the case of homicide, makes the right to compensation …", "paragraph_id": "para_221" }, { "text": "Costs", "paragraph_id": "para_222" }, { "text": "69", "paragraph_id": "para_223" }, { "text": "Since these proceedings are, for the parties to the main proceedings, a step in the action pending before the referring court, the decision on costs is a matter for that court. Costs incurred in submitting observations to the Court, other than the costs of those parties, are not recoverable.", "paragraph_id": "para_224" }, { "text": "On those grounds, the Court (Fifth Chamber) hereby rules:", "paragraph_id": "para_225" }, { "text": "Article 12(2) of Council Directive 2004/80/EC of 29 April 2004 relating to compensation to crime victims", "paragraph_id": "para_226" }, { "text": "must be interpreted as precluding legislation of a Member State which provides for a scheme on compensation for violent intentional crimes that, in the case of homicide, makes the right to compensation of the parents of the deceased person subject to the absence of a surviving spouse and children of that deceased person and the right to compensation of the victim’s siblings subject to the absence of those parents.", "paragraph_id": "para_227" }, { "text": "[Signatures]", "paragraph_id": "para_228" }, { "text": "(\n *1\n ) Language of the case: Italian.", "paragraph_id": "para_229" }, { "text": "(\n i\n ) The name of the present case is a fictitious name. 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