Environmental protection: combating serious crime. Framework Decision. Initiative Denmark

The European Parliament adopted, under consultation procedure, the report drafted by Mr Giuseppe DI LELLO FINUOLI (GUE/NGL, I) on the initiative of the Kingdom of Denmark with a view to the adoption of a Council framework decision on combating serious environmental crime. The text calls for harmonisation of penalties across the EU and argues in favour of a system of heavier penalties than are currently enforced. The text also allows for the possiblity of bringing criminal proceedings against legal persons, as well as against natural persons. In relation to the decisons of the courts and, whenever possible, other bodies, they shall be publicly available in accordance with Article 9(4) of the Convention on access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters, done at Aarhus, Denmark, on 25 June 1998.�