Revised EU directive will hinder environmental criminals and protect wildlife

(Brussels, 16 November 2023) - The European Union is strengthening environmental protection by revising the Environmental Crime Directive, following the successful conclusion of trilogue negotiations between the European Parliament, the Council, and the European Commission.

The move has been welcomed by organisations such as IFAW, that has lobbied for legislation on environmental crimes to be strengthened.

The goal of the revised directive is to ensure that environmental laws are followed by establishing clear and harmonised criminal penalties. In particular it will:

• Encompass a broader range of environmental crime offences;
• Introduce a qualified offence that applies to the most severe crimes, that can result in the destruction of precious ecosystems, natural habitats, or the deterioration of air, soil, or water quality—they may cause widespread and substantial damage, which could be irreversible or long-lasting;
• Strengthen implementation through national strategies and reporting requirements, along with minimum standards for resources, training, and investigative tools, and a commitment to effective enforcement;
• Establish quantified thresholds, penalties, and sanctions; and
• Aim to involve civil society organisations and members of the public to help combat environmental offences.

The revised directive also recognises the threats of underwater noise pollution by including it in the list of criminal offences—a step that IFAW very much supports.

“Sounds from moving ships travel far and wide beneath the waves. For marine mammals especially such as whales and dolphins, this noise isn’t just a nuisance—it’s disrupting essential means of communication and navigation”, said Ilaria Di Silvestre, Head of EU Policy & Campaigns, IFAW. “Underwater noise pollution is a scourge on our seas, threatening marine ecosystems, so seeing this being recognised in the revised directive is a positive step forward”.

While this move has been welcomed, IFAW highlights that shortcomings remain. Maximum limits for penalties and sanctions on environmental crimes are inadequate and need reconsideration. To enhance the effectiveness of the directive, the inclusion of performance indicators for measuring implementation and application would be beneficial and is recommended for future revisions.

IFAW remains committed to tackling environmental offences in the EU. It looks forward to the final adoption of the revised directive in the coming weeks and will continue to collaborate with policymakers and stakeholders to ensure an effective implementation the Environmental Crime Directive.

ENDS

Press Contact:

Belgium
Jürgen Noack
Communications Consultant
+32 (0)470 48 49 05
jnoack.contractor@ifaw.org