EU: 4 out of 5 committees now support including ecocide in environmental crime directive

The EU Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (“LIBE”) has just voted in support (NB final text still pending publication) of including a crime of ecocide into the Directive on protection of the environment through criminal law, currently under revision.  The committee’s recommendations include introduction of a crime of ecocide with a corresponding definition based on that of the Independent Expert Panel (June 2021) convened by the Stop Ecocide Foundation.  Specific recommended sanctions are 10 years imprisonment (natural persons) and 12-23% of turnover (legal persons i.e. companies).

Inclusion of ecocide has already been backed by the Committees on Environment, Health and Food Safety (“ENVI”), Development (“DEVE”) and Petitions (“PETI”).  Of the five parliamentary committees tasked with providing opinions on the Directive, only the Legal Affairs Committee (“JURI”) remains, after which the text agreed upon by that committee will go forward to consideration by the full EU Parliament (plenary) before final discussions with the EU Commission and Council of Ministers.  Vote in the JURI committee is currently anticipated to take place on the 28th February. 

While last week’s Council of Europe resolution does not oblige its 46 member states (nor indeed the 27-state EU) to legislate for ecocide - the Council of Europe is a separate non-legislating body - it will undoubtedly have a bearing on the EU discussions, as will its recommendation to the Committee of (Foreign) Ministers of those 46 states.

Momentum for the recognition of ecocide at EU level is accelerating fast. You can help us keep the pressure on! Here are some simple and effective ways for you to support: HERE