New rules to protect the environment through criminal law will enter into force on 20 May. The new Directive on Environmental Crime will help achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal by combating the most serious environmental crimes, which can have devastating effects on both the environment and human health, through criminal law.

The new directive will provide a comprehensive and up-to-date list of environmental offences, addressing the most serious breaches of environmental obligations. Member States will have to ensure that these breaches constitute criminal offences in their national law. (More on environment.ec.europa.eu)