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Spotlight Environmental Crime Directive: Eurojust Note on Judicial Cooperation 
3 July 2026
Cornelia Riehle LL.M. Cornelia Riehle LL.M. in Issue 1/2026
The new Environmental Crime Directive was to be transposed into national law by EU Member States by 21 May 2026. The Directive establishes minimum EU-wide standards for the definition of environmental criminal offences and penalties, replacing the previous 2008 legislation. In addition, it introduces a … Read more
EU Eurojust Environmental Crime Judicial Cooperation
Spotlight CoE Opens New Convention on Environmental Crime for Signature 
4 May 2026
Dr. Anna Pingen Dr. Anna Pingen / Thomas Wahl Thomas Wahl in Issue 4/2025
On 3 December 2025, the Council of Europe opened the Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law (CETS No. 228) for signature, marking a significant step in the development of international legal tools to address environmental crime. The new convention seeks to strengthen criminal justice responses to serious environmental harm and promote closer cooperation between states in the investigation and prosecution of such offences. Read more
Council of Europe Environmental Crime
Waste Shipment Enforcement Group Launched 
23 June 2025
Thomas Wahl Thomas Wahl in Issue 2/2025
On 22/23 May 2025, the Waste Shipment Enforcement Group (WSEG) was launched. The Group is foreseen in the 2024 Waste Shipment Regulation and constitutes a forum for sharing relevant information for the prevention and detection of illegal shipments, including information and intelligence on trends in illegal shipments and experience, knowledge and best practices on enforcement. Read more
EU OLAF Environmental Crime
CoE Adopts 2025–2030 Environmental Strategy 
2 June 2025
Dr. Anna Pingen Dr. Anna Pingen in Issue 2/2025
The Council of Europe adopted its Strategy on the Environment 2025–2030, setting out a forward-looking vision that links environmental protection with the organisation’s core values of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Read more
Council of Europe Environmental Crime
Directive on Ship-Source Pollution Amended 
28 January 2025
Thomas Wahl Thomas Wahl in Issue 4/2024
Directive 2005/35/EC as regards ship-source pollution and on the introduction of administrative penalties for infringements was amended by a new Directive published on 16 December 2024. The Directive updates the 2005 legal framework and incorporates into Union law international standards on illegal discharges from ships at sea. It also aims to ensure that those responsible for such discharges are subject to dissuasive, effective and proportionate sanctions. Read more
EU Environmental Crime
Spotlight New EU Rules on Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law 
12 August 2024 (updated 2 months, 2 weeks ago)
Dr. Anna Pingen Dr. Anna Pingen / Thomas Wahl Thomas Wahl in Issue 1/2024
On 30 April 2024, Directive (EU) 2024/1203 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on the protection of the environment through criminal law was published in the Official Journal of the EU. The Directive establishes updated minimum EU-wide standards for the definition of environmental criminal offences and penalties, replacing the previous 2008 legislation. Read more
EU Legislation Environmental Crime
GRECO: The Link between Environmental Crimes and Corruption 
14 April 2024
Dr. András Csúri Dr. András Csúri in Issue 4/2023
On 8 December 2023, in the run-up to the annual International Anti-Corruption Day, GRECO President Marin Mrčela issued a statement in which he highlighted the links between environmental crimes (e.g., illegal forestry, illegal fishery, illegal wildlife trade, illegal mining, illegal dumping, and illegal transport of … Read more
Council of Europe Corruption Environmental Crime
“From the Hives”: Results of the EU Action Against Honey Adulteration 
13 June 2023
Dr. Anna Pingen Dr. Anna Pingen
The Commission communicated the results of the EU coordinated action "From the Hives". It confirmed that a significant part of honey imported into the EU is suspicious of not complying with the provisions of the “Honey Directive”. OLAF provided investigative support and on-the-spot checks. Read more
EU OLAF Environmental Crime
Revised EU Action Plan to End Wildlife Trafficking 
9 December 2022
Dr. Anna Pingen Dr. Anna Pingen
At the beginning of November 2022, the Commission adopted a revised EU Action Plan to put an end to illegal wildlife trade, as announced in the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. It directs the EU efforts in combating wildlife trafficking until 2027 and addresses four main priorities. Read more
EU Environmental Crime
EP Demands Reinforced Protection of Wildlife 
30 September 2022
Dr. Anna Pingen Dr. Anna Pingen
In a resolution of 5 October 2022, MEPs called on Member States to step up the fight against illegal trade in wildlife fauna and flora, saying that EU legislation needs to be revised and expanded. Read more
EU Environmental Crime Organised Crime
EP Stands Up for “EU Green Prosecutor” 
8 August 2022
Thomas Wahl Thomas Wahl
In a resolution adopted on 23 June 2022 on illegal logging in the EU, MEPs emphasises, among other things, that the establishment of a "green prosecutor" could help to combat environmental crimes, such as illegal logging. This could be achieved by broadening the mandate … Read more
EU European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) Environmental Crime
Europol: Environmental Crime Threat Assessment 2022 
26 July 2022
Cornelia Riehle LL.M. Cornelia Riehle LL.M.
On 27 June 2022, Europol published a new report assessing the environmental crime threats targeting the EU.In three main chapters, the report looks at the criminal networks involved in environmental crimes, the main typologies of environmental crimes investigated in the EU, and the impact … Read more
EU Europol Environmental Crime
Operation Dismantles Criminal Organisation Trading Illicit Refrigerant Gases 
13 July 2022
Thomas Wahl Thomas Wahl
One of OLAF’s operational priorities is the fight against the illegal trade in refrigerant gases (also called F-gases or hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)), which are heavily regulated in the EU due to their major potential impact on the environment (→ eucrim 3/2021, 143-144). On 30 June … Read more
EU OLAF Environmental Crime
Operation Lake VI 
12 July 2022
Thomas Wahl Thomas Wahl
On 24 June 2022, European law enforcement authorities reported on the results of the sixth edition of “Operation Lake”, which was carried out between November 2021 and June 2022. This annual operation targets the smuggling of the protected European glass eel. Europol, OLAF, the … Read more
EU OLAF Europol Environmental Crime
Commission Proposal for Better Protection of the Environment by Means of Criminal Law 
29 January 2022 (updated 4 years, 3 months ago)
Dr. Anna Pingen Dr. Anna Pingen in Issue 4/2021
On 15 December 2021, the Commission adopted a proposal for a new EU directive to crack down on environmental crime. In this way, the Commission intends to fulfil a key commitment of the European Green Deal.The proposal aims to make protection of the … Read more
EU Environmental Crime
Commission Initiative to Achieve the European Green Deal 
18 January 2022
Dr. Anna Pingen Dr. Anna Pingen
On 17 November 2021, the Commission adopted three new initiatives in order to achieve the European Green Deal. With these initiatives, the Commission aims to curb EU-driven deforestation, facilitate intra-EU waste shipments, promote a circular economy, and tackle the export of illegal waste and … Read more
EU Legislation Environmental Crime