European Council agrees its negotiating mandate on the environmental crime directive

This proposal aims to improve the investigation and prosecution of environmental crime offences. It defines environmental crime more precisely and adds new types of environmental criminal offences. It also harmonises the level of penalties for natural persons and for the first time for legal persons as well.

Instead of the nine offences that currently exist under EU criminal law, the negotiating mandate defines 20 offences, broadening and clarifying the scope of conduct that is prohibited because it harms the environment. The new offences include timber trafficking, which is a major cause of deforestation in some parts of the world, the illegal recycling of polluting components of ships and serious breaches of legislation on chemicals.