Directive 2008/99 on the protection of the environment through criminal law was originally passed to plug the gaping holes in the implementation and enforcement of environmental regulations across the EU. An evaluation carried out in 2019/2020 found that the Directive had achieved little impact in practice, however – indeed, environmental crime continues to thrive and grow in the EU, as it does elsewhere on the planet. To address this issue, the Commission published a comprehensive revision proposal in December 2021 to widen the Directive's scope and depth as well as introducing several procedural innovations. After the Council adopted its negotiating mandate in late 2022, the trilogues are currently in full swing, with the Swedish presidency having committed to advancing the negotiations 'as far as possible'.
During the event we will discuss the content, expectations, and implications associated with the revised Directive from various angles. The event will open with an intervention from Member of the European Parliament Marie Toussaint (Greens/France), who will outline the Parliament's stance on the proposed revisions. Next, Prof. Michael Faure will offer his views on the proposed revisions. PhD researcher Valerie Albus will then comment on the Directive's implications for EU criminal law, after which Daniel Bertram will provide a reflection on the rising star of criminal sanctions in the toolkit of environmental regulators. Following these interventions, the floor will be opened to all participants wishing to make a contribution – we hope for a lively discussion on this timely and interdisciplinary matter.