Activities of Stanislav POLČÁK related to 2021/0422(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Protection of the environment through criminal law (short presentation)
Amendments (73)
Amendment 122 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) A further approximation and effectiveness of sanction levels imposed in practice should be fostered through common aggravating circumstances that reflect the severity of the crime committed. Where the death of, or serious injury to, a person, have been caused and where these elements are not already constituent for the criminal offence, these could be considered as aggravating circumstances. Equally, when an environmental criminal offence causes substantial and irreversible or long- lasting damage to an entire ecosystem, this should be an aggravating circumstance because of its severity, including in cases comparable to ecocide. As the illegal profits or expenditure that can be generated or avoided through environmental crime are an important incentive for criminals, these should be calculated as accurately as possible and taken into account when determining the appropriate level of sanctioning in the individual case.
Amendment 128 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Where the crimes are of a continuing nature, they should be brought to an end as soon as possible. Where offenders have made financial gains, such gains should be confiscated in full.
Amendment 132 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The Union continues to be concerned with the rise insustained rise in the number and severity of environmental criminal offences and their effects, which undermine the effectiveness of Union environmental legislation. These offences are moreover increasingly extending beyond the borders of the Member States in which the offences are committed. Such offences pose a threat to the environment and therefore call for an appropriate and effective response.
Amendment 135 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The existing systems of penalties under Directive 2008/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council20 and environmental sectoral law have not been sufficient in all environmental policy area to achieve compliance with Union law for the protection of the environment. Compliance should be strengthened by the availability of sufficiently dissuasive criminal penalties, which demonstrate social disapproval of a qualitatively different nature compared to administrative penalties. _________________ 20 Directive 2008/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on the protection of the environment through criminal law (OJ L 328, 6.12.2008, p. 28).
Amendment 143 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) Environmental criminal offences harm nature and society. By reporting breaches of Union environmental law, people perform a service of public interest and play a key role in exposing and preventing such breaches, and thus safeguarding the welfare of society. Individuals in contact with an organisation in the context of their work-related activities are often the first to know about threats or harm to the public interest and the environment. Persons who report irregularities are known as whistleblowers. Potential whistleblowers are often discouraged from reporting their concerns or suspicions for fear of retaliation. Such persons should benefit from balancedcomprehensive and effective whistleblowers protection set out under Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council25. _________________ 25 Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (OJ L 305/17).
Amendment 149 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) Other persons may also possess valuable information concerning potential environmental criminal offences. They may be members of the community affected or members of society at large taking an active part in protecting the environment. Such persons who report environmental crimes as well as persons who cooperate with the enforcement of such offences should be provided all the necessary support and assistance in the context of criminal proceedings, so that they are not disadvantaged for their cooperation but supported and assisted. These persons should also be protected from being harassed or unduly prosecuted for reporting such offences or their cooperation in the criminal proceedings.
Amendment 179 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) A further approximation and effectiveness of sanction levels imposed in practice should be fostered through common aggravating circumstances that reflect the severity of the crime committed. Where the death of, or serious injury to, a person, have been caused and where these elements are not already constituent for the criminal offence, these could be considered as aggravating circumstances. Equally, when an environmental criminal offence causes substantial and irreversible or long- lasting damage to an entire ecosystem, this should be an aggravating circumstance because of its severity, including in cases comparable to ecocide. As the illegal profits or expenditure that can be generated or avoided through environmental crime are an important incentive for criminals, these should be taken into account as accurately as possible when determining the appropriate level of sanctioning in the individual case.
Amendment 184 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Where the crimes are of a continuing nature, they should be brought to an end as soon as possible. Where offenders have made financial gains, such gains should be confiscated in full.
Amendment 184 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
(4) ‘public concerned’ means the persons affected or likely to be affected by the offences referred to in Articles 3 or 4, including victims of such offences. For the purposes of this definition, it is presumed that persons having a sufficient interest or maintaining the impairment of a right as well as non- governmental organisations promoting the protection of the environment and meeting any proportionate requirements under national law shall be deemed to have an interest and are or may be affected by any of the offences in Articles 3 or 4;
Amendment 186 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
(4) ‘public concerned’ means the persons affected or likely to be affected by the offences referred to in Articles 3 or 4. For the purposes of this definition, persons having a sufficient interest or maintaining the impairment of a right as well asit is presumed that non- governmental organisations promoting the protection of the environment and meeting any proportionate requirements under national law shall be deemed to have an interestbe, or likely to be, affected by the offences referred to Articles 3 or 4;
Amendment 201 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the discharge, emission or introduction of a quantity of materials or substances, energy, or ionising radiation into air, soil or water which causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury to any person or serious substantial damage to the quality of air, the quality of soil or the quality of water, or to animals or plants;
Amendment 204 #
(24) Environmental criminal offences harm nature and society. By reporting breaches of Union environmental law, people perform a service of public interest and play a key role in exposing and preventing such breaches, and thus safeguarding the welfare of society. Individuals in contact with an organisation in the context of their work-related activities are often the first to know about threats or harm to the public interest and the environment. Persons who report irregularities are known as whistleblowers. Potential whistleblowers are often discouraged from reporting their concerns or suspicions for fear of retaliation. Such persons should benefit from balancedcomprehensive and effective whistleblowers protection set out under Directive (EU) 2019/193725 of the European Parliament and of the Council . _________________ 25 Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (OJ L 305/17).
Amendment 206 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the discharge, emission or introduction of a quantity of materials or, substances, energy or ionising radiation into air, soil or water which causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury to any person or substantialevere damage to the quality of air, the quality of soil or the quality of water, or to animals or plants;
Amendment 209 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) Other persons may also possess valuable information concerning potential environmental criminal offences. They may be members of the community affected or members of society at large taking an active part in protecting the environment. Such persons who report environmental crimes as well as persons who cooperate with the enforcement of such offences should be provided with all the necessary support and assistance in the context of criminal proceedings, so that they are not disadvantaged for their cooperation but supported and assisted. These persons should also be protected from being harassed or unduly prosecuted for reporting such offences or their cooperation in the criminal proceedings.
Amendment 210 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the placing on the market of a product which, in breach of a prohibition or another requirement, causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury to any person or substantialevere damage to air, water or soil quality, or to animals or plants especially as a result of the product's use on a larger scale;
Amendment 211 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the placing on the market of a product which, in breach of a prohibition or another requirement, causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury to any person or substantialevere damage to air, water or soil quality, or to animals or plants especially as a result of the product's use on a larger scale;
Amendment 218 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c – paragraph 1
and it causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury to any person or substantialevere damage to the quality of air, the quality of soil or the quality of water, or to animals or plants;
Amendment 225 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e – introductory part
(e) the collection, transport, recovery or disposal of waste, the supervision of such operations and the after-care of disposal sitessites where waste is permanently stored, including action taken as a dealer or a broker (waste management), when an unlawful conduct:
Amendment 232 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e – point ii
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e – point ii
(ii) concerns other waste than referred to in point (i) and causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury to any person or substantialevere damage to the quality of air, the quality of soil or the quality of water, or to animals or plants;
Amendment 238 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h
(h) the ship-source discharges of polluting substances referred to in Article 4(1) of Directive 2005/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council42 on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties, including criminal penalties, into any of the areas referred to in Article 3(1) of that Directive, provided that the ship-source discharges do not satisfy the exceptions set in Article 5 of that Directive; this provision shall not apply to individual cases, where the ship- source discharge does not cause deterioration in the quality of water, or other measurable damage to the environment, unless repeated cases by the same offender in conjunction result in deterioration in the quality of water or other measurable damage to the environment; _________________ 42 Directive 2005/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties for infringements (OJ L 255, 30.9.2005, p. 11– 21).
Amendment 242 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point i
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point i
(i) the installation, operation or dismantling of an installation in which a dangerous activity is carried out or in which dangerous substances, preparations or pollutants are stored or used falling within the scope of Directive 2012/18/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council43, Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council44 or Directive 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council45 and which causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury to any person or substantialevere damage to the quality of air, the quality of soil or the quality of water, or to animals or plants; _________________ 43 Directive 2012/18/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances, amending and subsequently repealing Council Directive 96/82/EC Text with EEA relevance (OJ L 197, 24.7.2012, p. 1– 37). 44 Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) (OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17– 119). 45 Directive 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on safety of offshore oil and gas operations and amending Directive 2004/35/EC (OJ L 178, 28.6.2013, p. 66– 106).
Amendment 246 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point j
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point j
(j) the manufacture, production, processing, handling, use, holding, storage, transport, import, export or disposal of radioactive material falling within the scope of Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom46, Council Directive 2014/87/Euratom47 or Council Directive 2013/51/Euratom48, which causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury to any person or substantialevere damage to the quality of air, the quality of soil or the quality of water, or to animals or plants; _________________ 46 Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom of 5 December 2013 laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation, and repealing Directives 89/618/Euratom, 90/641/Euratom, 96/29/Euratom, 97/43/Euratom and 2003/122/Euratom (OJ L 13, 17.1.2014, p. 1–73). 47 Council Directive 2014/87/Euratom of 8 July 2014 amending Directive 2009/71/Euratom establishing a Community framework for the nuclear safety of nuclear installations (OJ L 219, 25.7.2014, p. 42–52). 48 Council Directive 2013/51/Euratom of 22 October 2013 laying down requirements for the protection of the health of the general public with regard to radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption (OJ L 296, 7.11.2013, p. 12– 21).
Amendment 251 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
(4) ‘public concerned’ means the persons affected or likely to be affected by the offences referred to in Articles 3 or 4, including victims of such offences. For the purposes of this definition, persons having a sufficient interest or maintaining the impairment of a rightclaiming a violation as well as non- governmental organisations promoting the protection of the environment and meeting any proportionate requirements under national law shall be deemed to have an interestbe, or likely to be, affected by the offences referred to Articles 3 or 4;
Amendment 251 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point l
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point l
(l) the killing, destruction, taking of, possession, sale or offering for sale of a specimen or specimens of wild fauna or flora species listed in Annexes IV and V (when species in Annex V are subject to the same measures as those adopted for species in Annex IV) to Council Directive 92/43/EEC49 and the species referred to in Article 1 of Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council50, except for cases where the conduct concerns a negligible quantity of such specimens; _________________ 49 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50). 50 Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7–25).
Amendment 256 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point m
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point m
(m) trading in specimens of wild fauna or flora species or parts or derivatives thereof listed in Annexes A, B and BC to Council Regulation (EC) No 338/9751, except for cases where the conduct concerns a negligible quantity of such specimens; _________________ 51 Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (OJ L 61, 3.3.1997, p. 1).the species listed in Annexes B and C and at the same time a negligible quantity of such specimens;
Amendment 262 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point o
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point o
(o) any conduct which causes the deterioration of a habitat within a protected site, within the meaning of Article 6(2) of the Directive 92/43/EEC, when this deterioration is significantgreater than negligible;
Amendment 264 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point p – point ii
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point p – point ii
(ii) the conduct breaches a condition of permit issued under Article 8 or of authorisation granted under Article 9 of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 and causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury to any person or substantialevere damage to the quality of air, the quality of soil or the quality of water, or to animals or plants;
Amendment 270 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point r a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point r a (new)
(ra) a serious infringement within the meaning of Article 90(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, and Article 42 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Amendment 282 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the discharge, emission or introduction of a quantity of materials or substances, energy or ionising radiation into air, soil or water which causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury to any person or substantialevere damage to the quality of air, the quality of soil or the quality of water, or to animals or plants;
Amendment 284 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall ensure that the conduct referred to in paragraph 1, points (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), (n), (o), (p) (ii), (q), (r) also constitutes a criminal offence, when committed with at least serious negligence.
Amendment 285 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the placing on the market of a product which, in breach of a prohibition or another requirement, causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury to any person or substantialevere damage to air, water or soil quality, or to animals or plants especially as a result of the product's use on a larger scale;
Amendment 286 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. Member States shall ensure that their national legislation specifies that the following elements shall be taken into account, where relevant, when assessing whether the damage or likely damage is substantial or severe for the purposes of the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of at least the offences referred to in paragraph 1, points (a) to (e), (i), (j), (k) and (p):
Amendment 293 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 - paragraph 1 - point c - paragraph 1
Article 3 - paragraph 1 - point c - paragraph 1
and it causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury to any person or substantialevere damage to the quality of air, the quality of soil or the quality of water, or to animals or plants;
Amendment 302 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e - introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e - introductory part
(e) the collection, transport, recovery or disposal of waste, the supervision of such operations and the after-care of disposal sitessites where waste is permanently stored, including action taken as a dealer or a broker (waste management), when an unlawful conduct:
Amendment 310 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e - part ii
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e - part ii
(ii) concerns other waste than referred to in point (i) and causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury to any person or substantialevere damage to the quality of air, the quality of soil or the quality of water, or to animals or plants;
Amendment 316 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h
(h) the ship-source discharges of polluting substances referred to in Article 4(1) of Directive 2005/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council42 on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties, including criminal penalties, into any of the areas referred to in Article 3(1) of that Directive, provided that the ship-source discharges do not satisfy the exceptions set in Article 5 of that Directive; this provision shall not apply to individual cases, where the ship- source discharge does not cause deterioration in the quality of water, or other measurable damage to the environment unless repeated cases by the same offender in conjunction result in deterioration in the quality of water or other measurable damage to the environment; _________________ 42 Directive 2005/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties for infringements (OJ L 255, 30.9.2005, p. 11).
Amendment 316 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that an attempt to commit any of the criminal offences referred to in Article 3 (1) points (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), (n), (o), (p) (ii), (q), (r) when committed intentionally is punishable as a criminal offence.
Amendment 320 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point i
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point i
(i) the installation, operation or dismantling of an installation in which a dangerous activity is carried out or in which dangerous substances, preparations or pollutants are stored or used falling within the scope of Directive 2012/18/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council43, Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council44 or Directive 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council45 and which causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury to any person or substantialevere damage to the quality of air, the quality of soil or the quality of water, or to animals or plants; _________________ 43 Directive 2012/18/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances, amending and subsequently repealing Council Directive 96/82/EC (OJ L 197, 24.7.2012, p. 1). 44 Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) (OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17). 45 Directive 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013, on safety of offshore oil and gas operations and amending Directive 2004/35/EC (OJ L 178, 28.6.2013, p. 66).
Amendment 321 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that offences referred to in Article 3 are punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least ten years if they cause or are likely to cause death or serious injury to any person, and with a maximum penalty of at least six years in other cases.
Amendment 323 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point j
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point j
(j) the manufacture, production, processing, handling, use, holding, storage, transport, import, export or disposal of radioactive material falling within the scope of Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom46, Council Directive 2014/87/Euratom47 or Council Directive 2013/51/Euratom48, which causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury to any person or substantialevere damage to the quality of air, the quality of soil or the quality of water, or to animals or plants; _________________ 46 Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom of 5 December 2013 laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation, and repealing Directives 89/618/Euratom, 90/641/Euratom, 96/29/Euratom, 97/43/Euratom and 2003/122/Euratom (OJ L 13, 17.1.2014, p. 1). 47 Council Directive 2014/87/Euratom of 8 July 2014 amending Directive 2009/71/Euratom establishing a Community framework for the nuclear safety of nuclear installations (OJ L 219, 25.7.2014, p. 42). 48 Council Directive 2013/51/Euratom of 22 October 2013 laying down requirements for the protection of the health of the general public with regard to radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption (OJ L 296, 7.11.2013, p. 12).
Amendment 324 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Amendment 330 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point l
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point l
(l) the killing, destruction, taking of, possession, sale or offering for sale of a specimen or specimens of wild fauna or flora species listed in Annexes IV and V (when species in Annex V are subject to the same measures as those adopted for species in Annex IV) to Council Directive 92/43/EEC49 and the species referred to in Article 1 of Directive 2009/147/EC50 of the European Parliament and of the Council, except for cases where the conduct concerns a negligible quantity of such specimens; _________________ 49 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50). 50 Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7–25).
Amendment 330 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Amendment 333 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point m
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point m
(m) trading in specimens of wild fauna or flora species or parts or derivatives thereof listed in Annexes A and B to Council Regulation (EC) No 338/9751 , except for cases where the conduct concerns a negligible quantity of such specimens; _________________ 51 Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (OJ L 61, 3.3.1997, p. 1).
Amendment 344 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 5 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 5 – point b
(b) fines in an amount sufficient to fulfil their punitive and deterrent nature;
Amendment 346 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point o
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point o
(o) any conduct which causes the deterioration of a habitat within a protected site, within the meaning of Article 6(2) of the Directive 92/43/EEC, when this deterioration is greater than insignificant;
Amendment 354 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point p - part ii
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point p - part ii
(ii) the conduct breaches a condition of permit issued under Article 8 or of authorisation granted under Article 9 of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 and causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury to any person or substantialevere damage to the quality of air, the quality of soil or the quality of water, or to animals or plants;
Amendment 373 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. Member States shall ensure that their national legislation specifies that the following elements shall be taken into account, where relevant, when assessing whether the damage or likely damage is substantialevere for the purposes of the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of at least the offences referred to in paragraph 1, points (a) to (e), (i), (j), (k) and (p):
Amendment 383 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) criminal or non-criminal fines in an amount sufficient to fulfil their punitive and deterrent nature;
Amendment 388 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
4. Member States shall ensure that their national legislation specifies that the following elements shall be taken into account when assessing whether the activity is likely to cause damage to the quality of air, the quality of soil or the quality of water, or to animals or plants for the purposes of the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of at least the offences referred to in paragraph 1, points (a) to (e), (i), (j), (k) and (p):
Amendment 404 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 4
Article 7 – paragraph 4
4. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that offences referred to in Article 3(1) points (a) to (j), (n), (q), (r) are punishable by fines, the maximum limit of which shall be not less than 10% of the total worldwide turnover of the legal person [/undertaking] in the business yeare punishable byreceding the fining decision if such offences cause or could cause death or serious injury to persons, and fines, the maximum limit of which shall be not less than 5% of the total worldwide turnover of the legal person [/ undertaking] in the business year preceding the fining decision in other cases.
Amendment 412 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 5
Article 7 – paragraph 5
Amendment 425 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that offences referred to in Article 3 are punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least ten years if they cause or are likely to cause death or serious injury to any person and with a maximum penalty of at least six years in other cases.
Amendment 430 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Amendment 433 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Amendment 437 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the offender restores nature to its previous conditionthe environmental component concerned to its previous condition or, if restoration to its previous condition is not possible, takes effective measures to mitigate the damage caused to the environment;
Amendment 450 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 5 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 5 – point b
(b) fines in an amount sufficient to fulfil their punitive and deterrent nature;
Amendment 465 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point c
Amendment 474 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 3
Article 11 – paragraph 3
3. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, Member States may establish a limitation period that is shorter than ten years, but not shorter than foursix years, provided that the period may be interrupted or suspended in the event of specified acts.
Amendment 476 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 4 – point b
Article 11 – paragraph 4 – point b
(b) a penalty of imprisonment in the case of a criminal offence which is punishable by a maximum sanction of at least six years of imprisonment, imposed following a final conviction for a criminal offence referred to in Articles 3 and 4, for at least six years from the date of the final conviction;
Amendment 477 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 4 – point c
Article 11 – paragraph 4 – point c
Amendment 493 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 4
Article 7 – paragraph 4
4. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that offences referred to in Article 3(1) point (a) to (j), (n), (q), (r) are punishable by are punishable by fines, the maximum limit of which shall be not less than 10% of the total worldwide turnover of the legal person [/undertaking] in the business year preceding the fining decision if such offences cause or could cause death or serious injury to persons, and fines, the maximum limit of which shall be not less than 5% of the total worldwide turnover of the legal person [/ undertaking] in the business year preceding the fining decision in other cases.
Amendment 504 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 5
Article 7 – paragraph 5
Amendment 505 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 2
Article 13 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that persons reporting offences referred to in Articles 3 and 4 of this Directive and providing evidence or otherwise cooperating with the investigation, prosecution or adjudication of such offences are provided the necessarycomprehensive support and assistance in the context of criminal proceedings.
Amendment 512 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Member States shall ensure that, in accordance with their national legal system, members of the public concerned have appropriate rights to participate in proceedings concerning offences referred to in Articles 3 and 4, for instance as a civil party. or when seeking to impose an obligation to restore the previous condition of the environment concerned within a specified period of time.
Amendment 542 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the offender restores nature to its previous conditionthe relevant environmental component of the nature to its previous condition or, if restoration is not possible, takes effective measures to mitigate the environmental damage caused;
Amendment 544 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) the resources neededspecific steps to secure the necessary resources, both human and financial, and how specialisation of enforcement professionals will be supported;
Amendment 562 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point c
Amendment 569 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 3
Article 11 – paragraph 3
3. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, Member States may establish a limitation period that is shorter than ten years, but not shorter than foursix years, provided that the period may be interrupted or suspended in the event of specified acts.
Amendment 574 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 4 – point b
Article 11 – paragraph 4 – point b
(b) a penalty of imprisonment in the case of a criminal offence which is punishable by a maximum sanction of at least six years of imprisonment, imposed following a final conviction for a criminal offence referred to in Articles 3 and 4, for at least six years from the date of the final conviction;
Amendment 576 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 4 – point c
Article 11 – paragraph 4 – point c
Amendment 609 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Member States shall ensure that, in accordance with their national legal system, members of the public concerned have appropriate rights to participate in proceedings concerning offences referred to in Articles 3 and 4, for instance as a civil partyseeking to impose an obligation to restore the previous condition of the environment concerned within a specified period of time.
Amendment 641 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) specific steps to secure the necessary resources, both personnel and financial, and how to support the specialisation of law enforcement professionals;