Protecting the environment through criminal law

I voted in favor of the report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of the environment through criminal law.


This new directive is a victory for the environment. For the first time, the EU recognizes the intrinsic value of nature and ecosystems in criminal law. The outdated 2008 directive was in urgent need of revision. With this new text, the EU is adopting one of the world's most ambitious pieces of legislation to combat environmental crime. It will allow for more effective protection of individuals who suffer as a result of such damage. Thus, the perpetrators of these crimes will be prosecuted and punished more severely in the case of “predicate offenses”, which encompass conduct comparable to ecocide. We also welcome the increase in the level of penalties and the introduction of significant additional sanctions.

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