\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nEnvironmental crime is\u00a0incredibly\u00a0profitable\u00a0and can generate as much money\u00a0as illegal drug trafficking. However, at this time,\u00a0the sanctions are much lower, and it is less often prosecuted.\u00a0As a result,\u00a0it highly attractive for organised crime groups.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe proposal contributes to the Zero Pollution Action Plan, the Circular Economy Action Plan,\u00a0and the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and promotes environmental rule of law.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nProtecting the environment<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\nThe aim of the proposal is to make environmental protection more\u00a0efficient\u00a0by obliging Member States\u00a0concerning\u00a0criminal law measures. It\u00a0lays out new environmental crimes, sets a minimum level for sanctions,\u00a0and reinforces the efficiency of law enforcement cooperation.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nOn top of this, it\u00a0compels\u00a0the Member States to support people who report environmental\u00a0offences and\u00a0assist\u00a0with the enforcement. This proposal will\u00a0aid the\u00a0protection of\u00a0nature and natural resources, as well as public health and well-being.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nTackling the climate crisis<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\nExecutive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, said: \u201cThe\u00a0wilful\u00a0destruction of our natural environment threatens our very survival as humanity. Letting law-breakers act with impunity undermines our collective efforts to protect nature and biodiversity, fight the climate crisis, reduce pollution, and eliminate waste. Serious abuses must be met with a serious response, and today’s proposal lays the groundwork for that.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nVice-President for Values and Transparency, Vera\u00a0Jourov\u00e1,\u00a0added: \u201cThe environment knows no borders and crimes against it display their negative effects across Member States. We must use all possible means to protect the environment at Union level. Criminal law is one of them, and this proposal will give law enforcement authorities and the judiciary the tools to act more effectively against environmental crimes across the Union.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nFighting environmental crime<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\nCommissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries\u00a0Virginijus\u00a0Sinkevi\u010dius, said: \u201cEnvironmental crimes cause irreversible and long-term damage to people’s health and the environment. Yet, they are hard to investigate and bring before the Court, while sanctions tend to be weak. That is why we need to strengthen our environmental criminal law. At a time where the international community discusses the crime of ecocide, a high level of environmental protection is not only important for present but also future generations as we redouble our efforts to fight environmental degradation.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nCommissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders,\u00a0concluded: \u201cThere is no time to lose. We must make sure that our rules on fighting environmental crime are targeted and ambitions enough to create a real\u00a0change. With this new directive, we have another strong tool to protect the environment and ultimately our planet. The proposal today builds on lessons learned and experience gained over the past years and will directly address root-causes that have prevented the protection of the environment from being as effective as it should be.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The European Commission has proposed to strengthen the protection of the environment and combat environmental crime through criminal law.\u00a0 The Commission has adopted a novel proposal\u00a0for a new EU Directive to combat environmental crime, fulfilling a core commitment of the\u00a0European Green Deal.\u00a0\u00a0 The\u00a0effects\u00a0of environmental crime on the natural environment in Europe, as well as the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":16663,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24433,785],"tags":[745,610,3365],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
European\u00a0Commission takes steps to combat environmental crime\u00a0<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n