CSR: Criminal law to combat environmental crime
Environmental crime is the4th criminal activity worldwideand increases annually from 5 to 7 per cent. It harms human health and the environment, generates significant costs for governments and leads to unfair competition for law-abiding businesses.
The European Commission's proposal to be adopted by Parliament and the Council aims to improve the definition of criminal offences related to pollution, waste and threats against biodiversity and other natural resources and should contribute to the achievement of the objectives of theGreen Pactfor Europe.
It listsnew criminal offencessuch as illegal timber trade (cf.CSR: proposal for a European regulation against deforestation), illegal collection of water and serious infringements of EU chemicals legislation.
This law lays down rules for introducing levels of deterrent fines and prison sentences reflecting the seriousness of the offence. Member States will have to provide for minimum imprisonment of up to 10 years if the offence causes, or is likely to cause, death or serious injury. New types of sanctions such as the exclusion of access to public funding will also emerge.
Each Member State will have to put in place a nationalcombating environmental crimeand coordination actions with supervisory authorities.
Financial support and a platform for strategic discussions will be proposed to Member States by the Commission, which continues to promote international cooperation in this area. Cross-border investigations and prosecutions should be facilitated.
Finally, a clause will encourage countries to supportAlert launchersreportingenvironmental offences.
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