On the 20th March 2017 IMPEL representatives participated in a workshop on tackling non-compliance with waste and wildlife legislation. Organised by the European Commission (DG ENV) under the scope of the Environmental Compliance Assurance Initiative, presentations were delivered by IMPEL, EnviCrimeNet, The European Network of Prosecutors for the Environment – ENPE, European Union Forum of Judges for the Environment – , EUFJE, the European Space Agency and the Bonn Convention, as well as other European Commission services.
Workshop challenges
Mr Daniel Calleja Crespo, Director General, DG ENV, who welcomed the participants, noted that waste
and wildlife crime and offending were already recognised as serious challenges. They are relevant not only to the Environmental Compliance Assurance (ECA) initiative, but also to the review of the Environmental Crime Directive, work on the Security Union and the peer evaluation on environmental crime launched by the Maltese Presidency. He presented challenges for the workshop: 1. developing a common vision; 2. helping to shape practical future actions for inclusion in the ECA Action Plan; and 3. ensuring coherence across the different services, institutions and organisations focusing on the issue.
Main conclusions
- Highlight the importance of added value of action at EU level which is complementary to action at national and international levels, ensuring coherence and joint agenda setting;
- Objectives of action should aim at ensuring compliance with the EU environmental acquis, ensuring fair competition between economic operators and reducing environmental harm in an effective way;
- Value of strategic approaches at national level;
- Getting the most out of what was being done at EU level;
- Common understanding of root causes for offending as well as the gravity of offending.
For more information please see the programme, presentations, case studies and main findings, available at the European Commission website.
