European Union flags fly outside the European Commission building in Brussels, Belgium, on June 9, 2021.(Photo: Xinhua)

 The European Commission on Wednesday adopted a proposal for a new EU Directive to crack down on environmental crime, fulfilling a key commitment of the European Green Deal.

The proposal obliges member states to take criminal law measures against those who damage the environment. It defines new environmental crimes, sets a minimum level for sanctions, and strengthens the effectiveness of law enforcement cooperation. It also obliges EU countries to support and assist people who report environmental offenses.

The goal of the proposal is to help protect nature and natural resources, as well as public health and well-being, the Commission said. "The wilful destruction of our natural environment threatens our very survival as humanity," said Executive Vice President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans. "Letting law-breakers act with impunity undermines our collective efforts to protect nature and biodiversity, fight the climate crisis, reduce pollution, and eliminate waste. Serious abuses must be met with a serious response."

Under the proposal, new environmental criminal offenses include illegal timber trade, illegal ship recycling, and illegal abstraction of water. Existing definitions of environmental criminal offenses are also clarified.

The Commission proposes to set a common minimum denominator for sanctions for environmental crimes. Where offenses cause or are likely to cause death or serious injury to any person, member states have to provide at least for imprisonment of up to ten years, said the Commission. 

The proposal will now be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council.