The European Union broadens its efforts to combat environmental crime

The European Commission welcomes the signature, on behalf of the European Union, of the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of the environment through criminal law. This landmark agreement, signed today, marks a significant step in strengthening environmental protection through combating environmental crime across Europe and beyond.

The Convention complements the 2024 Directive on the protection of the environment through criminal law. The Directive clearly defines criminal offences harming the environment, establishes minimum rules concerning penalties for natural and legal persons and rules strengthening the enforcement chain. While the Directive establishes minimum standards for Member States within the EU, the Convention builds on these efforts and creates a broader pan-European and international framework. In particular, the Convention establishes binding international standards to define and criminalise serious environmental offences punishable by effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions. It also strengthens prevention measures, international cooperation to address environmental crime, cross-border investigations, information exchange, and collection of statistical data. 

The European Union is stronger when our neighbouring countries have criminal-law standards that are consistent with our own. When we work on the basis of similar rules, cooperation becomes smoother, investigations move faster, and accountability is truly effective across borders. Signing the Convention reinforces the EU's commitment to robust environmental protection and aligns its actions with wider European standards at a time of heightened geopolitical and environmental risks. The Convention is expected to enter into force upon ten ratifications, including at least eight member States of the Council of Europe. Alongside Council of Europe member States, the Convention is also open for signature by non-member States that took part in the drafting process, as well as by the European Union. Once the Convention enters into force, other non-member States may be invited to accede.