21 May 2008 - The South East’s Green Euro-MP has today welcomed the European Parliament’s overwhelming support in favour of a Directive on criminal sanctions to protect the environment (1). Under the proposed new rules, those who commit acts which seriously harm the environment, either intentionally or through gross negligence, could be prosecuted.

Dr Caroline Lucas MEP, who sits on the Parliament’s influential Environment and Climate Change Committees, said:

"I wholly support this first ever proposal for a European Directive on criminal sanctions, which establishes that serious environmental offences should be considered criminal in the European Union.

"These include pollution of air, soil and water causing harm to people, flora and fauna, as well as serious cases of illegal shipment of waste.

"The Green/EFA Group succeeded in our opposition to any limited approach regarding protected habitats, flora and fauna and welcome this improvement to the first draft.

"However, while the proposed Directive does mark a positive first step, the terms are far from perfect. In particular we regret the limits imposed on the scope of the Directive by adding two Annexes with a list of Directives that define what is ‘unlawful’ under European environmental law."

Responsibility for implementing the Directive, as well as imposing and setting the level of fines for criminal damage to the environment, will be in the hands of Member States.

Dr Lucas concluded: "Thanks to this Directive, Member States will no longer be able to systematically waive penalties for environmental crimes. It is certainly an important achievement."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

(1) Today’s vote on Hartmut Nassauer’s report (A6-0154/2008) ‘Protection of the environment through criminal law’. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2008-0154&language=EN