<p>As co-legislator, Parliament has long been supportive of EU biodiversity protection and climate change policies.</p>

<p>The EU has played an important international role in seeking solutions to biodiversity loss, deforestation and climate change. The 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change notes the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems and the protection of biodiversity. As part of the European Green Deal, the Commission has proposed a new biodiversity strategy that aims to put Europe’s biodiversity on the path to recovery by 2030, for the benefit of people, the climate and the planet.</p>

Biodiversity Strategy 2030

Parliament is set to approve new rules aiming to protect the environment in the EU through criminal law.

Following a debate on Monday, MEPs are expected to give their final green light to a new directive on environmental crime, as agreed with the member states in November 2023, on Tuesday. The new law provides an updated list of environmental crimes including illegal timber trade, depletion of water resources or breaches of EU chemicals legislation. It also introduces the so-called qualified offence of causing the destruction of an ecosystem, such as large-scale forest fires, and thus comparable to ecocide.

Individual offenders, including company representatives, can face prison sentences of up to five or ten years depending on the severity of the crime. They will also be required to reinstate the environment they destroyed and compensate for the damage. Companies can also face fines of up to 5% of their worldwide turnover or 40 million euro.

Background

The new legislation aims to tackle the rising number of environmental crimes in the EU. Environmental crime is the fourth largest criminal activity in the world and is one of the main sources of income for organised crime alongside drugs, weapons and human trafficking.

Press conference -  Environmental crime directive

Press conference on Environmental crime directive

EP Plenary session -  EU Action Plan: protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries

EP Plenary session - Question time to Commission - Increasing EU ambitions on biodiversity ahead of COP 15

SEF Biodiversity Roadmap - Kick-off a pilot project on biodiversity in the garden of Rue Montoyer 75

EP Plenary session - The role of development policy in the response to biodiversity loss in developing countries, in the context of the achievement of the 2030 Agenda

EP Plenary session - Establishment of Antarctic Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the conservation of Southern Ocean biodiversity

EP Online Press Seminar - What kind of Biodiversity we want for the future? A journey to COP China

Plenary session - EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives

French SME active in beekeeping - Honey producer

Following European elections in May 2019, the Parliament held its constituent session on 2 July 2019. Parliament, Council, and the Commission identified common priorities and committed to deliver on before the 2024 European Elections. With the series of videos "European Parliament’s priorities and achievements (2019-2024)", have a look back at the different legislative and political achievements reached by the EP. Parliament declared a climate emergency in 2019 and fought for more ambitious greenhouse gas - emissions reductions to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement. The Climate Law makes it a binding objective for the EU to become climate neutral in 2050 and reduce GHG emissions by at least 55% in 2030. It gives European citizens and businesses the legal certainty and predictability they need to plan for the green transition. At least 30% of the EU budget will support climate objectives (and 8% biodiversity).

European Parliament’s priorities and achievements (2019-2024): Climate protection and environmental policies

MEPs vote on the following topics: Luena (A9-0220/2023) - Nature restoration; Gozi (A9-0009/2023) - Transparency and targeting of political advertising; Ripa (ENVI 14/02) - Detergents and surfactants, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 648/2004; Borchia (A9-0378/2023) - Amending Decision (EU) 2017/1324 as regards the continuation of the Union’s participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon Europe; Manders (A9-0087/2023) - Protection of the environment through criminal law; and Van Overveldt (A9-0412/2023) - Report on the European Central Bank – annual report 2023.

Voting session: Nature restoration

Antonius MANDERS (EPP, NL), rapporteur, holds a press conference on the Environmental crime directive. Parliament is set to approve new rules aiming to protect the environment in the EU through criminal law. Following a debate on Monday, MEPs are expected to give their final green light to a new directive on environmental crime, as agreed with the member states in November 2023, on Tuesday. The new law provides an updated list of environmental crimes including illegal timber trade, depletion of water resources or breaches of EU chemicals legislation. It also introduces the so-called qualified offence of causing the destruction of an ecosystem, such as large-scale forest fires, and thus comparable to ecocide. Individual offenders, including company representatives, can face prison sentences of up to five or ten years depending on the severity of the crime. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Antonius MANDERS (EPP, NL), rapporteur on the Environmental crime directive

MEPs give their final green light to a new directive on environmental crime, as agreed with the Member States in November 2023. The new law provides an updated list of environmental crimes including illegal timber trade, depletion of water resources or breaches of EU chemicals legislation. It also introduces the so-called qualified offence of causing the destruction of an ecosystem, such as large-scale forest fires, and thus comparable to ecocide. Short presentation of the topic.

Short presentations - Report: Antonius Manders (A9-0087/2023) - Protection of the environment through criminal law

This infoclip illustrates the new rules that provide an updated list of acts related to the environment that qualify as criminal offences at EU level and of the related sanctions, to ensure a more effective enforcement of EU environmental legislation. This item shows extracts from Iaw suits, courts, ecosystems, invasive species, forest fires, environmental pollution, water waste and treatment, ships and gas companies.

Infoclip: Environmental protection through criminal law

The Commission, on 24 February 2021, adopted the new EU strategy on climate change adaptation which aims at enhancing the EU’s and the world’s capacity to adapt to and minimise the impacts of climate change and at the same time further develop and accelerate actions across the economy and society. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Climate adaptation: how can we build resilience?

On the 14th September 2022, Ursula von der LEYEN, EC President, delivers her State of the European Union (SOTEU) speech in the European Parliament. This infoclip illustrates one of the main stake of the coming year: the fight against climate change after the severe droughts, fires and floods that EU has faced in the past years. EU Green Deal aims at improving the well-being and health of citizens and future generations by providing for exemple fresh air, clean water, healthy soil and biodiversity, fresh air, clean water, healthy soil and biodiversity.

Infoclip: Fight against climate change and European Green Deal

Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA), Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), Emma WIESNER (RE, SE), Silvia MODIG (The Left, FI) and and Inna SOVSUN, member of the Ukrainian Parliament /Rada (remotely) hold a press conference on Taxonomy, the Commission’s plan to include certain nuclear and gas activities in the list of environmentally sustainable economic activities.

Press conference by Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA), rapporteur on Taxonomy; Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), Emma WIESNER (RE, SE), Silvia MODIG (The Left, FI) and and Inna SOVSUN, member of the Ukrainian Parliament/Rada

Europe hosts a rich diversity of wild pollinators, including over 2 000 species of bees, more than 480 species of butterflies, almost 1 000 species of hoverflies and thousands of other insect species. In the European Union (EU), 78 % of native flora and 84 % of crops are either partially or fully dependent on insects for pollination. However, significant pollinator loss has been documented over time across the EU. It entails risks for both societies and ecosystems. Pollinator protection is a key issue for the European Parliament, which made clear that the revision of the EFSA bee guidance document should ensure a level of protection at least equivalent to that laid down in 2013. Parliament also called for an urgent revision of the EU pollinators initiative, a ban on all neonicotinoid-based pesticides and the inclusion of EU-wide binding pesticide reduction targets in the upcoming revision of the directive on the sustainable use of pesticides.

EPRS - Protecting pollinator diversity in the EU

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate the role of development policy in the response to biodiversity loss in developing countries: closing statements by Michèle RIVASI (Greens/EFA, FR), rapporteur and by Jutta URPILAINEN, European Commissioner for International Partnerships.

The role of development policy in the response to biodiversity loss in developing countries: closing statements by Jutta URPILAINEN, European Commissioner for International Partnerships and by Michèle RIVASI (Greens/EFA, FR), Rapporteur

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate the role of development policy in the response to biodiversity loss in developing countries.

The role of development policy in the response to biodiversity loss in developing countries: MEPs debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate the role of development policy in the response to biodiversity loss in developing countries: opening statements by Michèle RIVASI (Greens/EFA, FR), rapporteur and by Jutta URPILAINEN, European Commissioner for International Partnerships.

The role of development policy in the response to biodiversity loss in developing countries: opening statements by Michèle RIVASI (Greens/EFA, FR), rapporteur and by Jutta URPILAINEN, European Commissioner for International Partnerships

Announcement of the results of the voting session (08/06) during the plenary session (7-10 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Result on vote on the EU Digital COVID Certificate: amendment 26 : 690 voting, 546 in favour, 93 against and 51 abstentions. Amendment 27: 690 voting, 575 in favour, 72 against and 43 abstention. Approuved.

Announcement of the results of the voting session (08/06) notably on the EU Digital COVID Certificate and ambiance shots prior to the debate

During the plenary session (7-10 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 - Bringing nature back into our lives. The EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030 is a comprehensive, ambitious and long-term plan to protect nature and reverse the degradation of ecosystems. The strategy aims to put Europe's biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030, and contains specific actions and commitments. It is the proposal for the EU’s contribution to the international negotiations on the global post-2020 biodiversity framework.

EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 - Bringing nature back into our lives: MEPs debate (part 1/2)

During the plenary session (7-10 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 - Bringing nature back into our lives: opening statements by César LUENA (S&D, ES), rapporteur, Saskia BRICMONT (Greens/EFA, BE) INTA; Isabel CARVALHAIS (S&D, PT) AGRI, Bettina VOLLATH (S&D, AT) AFET, Gabriel MATO (EPP, ES) and by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment. The EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030 is a comprehensive, ambitious and long-term plan to protect nature and reverse the degradation of ecosystems. The strategy aims to put Europe's biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030, and contains specific actions and commitments. It is the proposal for the EU’s contribution to the international negotiations on the global post-2020 biodiversity framework. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 - Bringing nature back into our lives: opening statements by César LUENA (S&D, ES), rapporteur and by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment

EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 - Bringing nature back into our lives: MEPs debate (part 2/2)

During the plenary session (7-10 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 - Bringing nature back into our lives: closing statement by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment. The EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030 is a comprehensive, ambitious and long-term plan to protect nature and reverse the degradation of ecosystems. The strategy aims to put Europe's biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030, and contains specific actions and commitments. It is the proposal for the EU’s contribution to the international negotiations on the global post-2020 biodiversity framework.

EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 - Bringing nature back into our lives: closing statement by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment

Members of the European Parliament's Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) meet in Brussels to vote on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030; Bringing nature back into our lives. The Committee is stressing the need for urgent action on biodiversity protection, ensuring the full implementation of the Strategy, and guaranteeing sufficient funding to attain the announced goals.Statement by César LUENA (S&D, ES), rapporteur.

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