The European Parliament have adopted new rules on environmental crimes and related sanctions. These rules are aimed at strengthening ecosystem protection, including expanding the list of criminal environmental offences, and harmonized sanctions including fines and imprisonment.
The new directive will proceed to enter into force, with EU member states given two years to integrate the rules into their national systems. The directive considers illegal timber trade, depletion of water resources, import and use of mercury and fluorinated greenhouse gases, the import of invasive species, and pollution caused by ships as criminal offences.
