26/03/2024 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 26 March, the Council of the European Union formally approved the revision of the Directive on the protection of the environment through criminal law. The text resulting from the inter-institutional political agreement reached with the European Parliament in November 2023 (see EUROPE 13294/4) replaces a 2008 law and extends the list of environmental criminal offences from nine to twenty, including timber trafficking and the illegal recycling of polluting ship components. Penalties have also been increased: intentional offences leading to death can now be punished by ten years’ imprisonment, aggravated offences by eight, and up to five years for other offences. Companies can be fined up to 5% of their worldwide turnover. Member States have two years to harmonise their national legislation. To see the legislative text, go to https://aeur.eu/f/bio (NP)