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🗞️ Driving the news: New rules to protect the environment through criminal law entered into force on May 20, with the Environmental Crime Directive listing comprehensive environmental offences

🔭 The context: This Directive aims to support European Green Deal goals by criminalizing severe environmental offences, including unlawful ship recycling and breaches of chemicals legislation
• Member States must now ensure these breaches are recognized as criminal offences

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The Directive addresses significant environmental and human health threats, reinforcing the importance of protecting ecosystems and ensuring accountability for serious environmental harm

⏭️ What's next: Member States will establish severe penalties for qualified offences leading to substantial environmental damage, and practitioners will receive enhanced training and resources to combat these crimes effectively

💬 One quote: "This landmark law is the first of its kind, it will ensure that the most severe breaches of environmental rules are considered as crimes and that the key role of environmental defenders is acknowledged," said Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries

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