PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
In 2011, the Council of the European Union welcomed the creation of the European Network for Environmental Crime, EnviCrimeNet (EU Council Resolution 10291/11). The purpose of the network is "ensuring that Member States become aware of countering environmental crime at a strategic level". EnviCrimeNet constitutes the European Centre of Excellence on criminal matters related to environmental crime.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE+SATEC project aimed at reinforcing actions in the fight against environmental crime, at a strategic level, by means of improving criminal investigation capabilities. It aimed at integrating existing common capacities in Europe, to detect and to mitigate existing weaknesses, and to provide a common framework for action. This was achieved through a concerted approach, so as to make better use of available resources and to offer a more efficient method to fight environmental crimes. The project also consolidated EnviCrimeNet as a European network for the exchange of best practices and lessons learnt at EU level, with its own legal entity.
The project’s specific objectives encompassed:
- giving advice to European institutions in the fight against environmental crime, providing a common vision for criminal investigations associated with different regulatory initiatives;
- establishing EnviCrimeNet as a non-profit association under the Belgian law;
- proposing basic principles for a regulatory harmonisation from the criminal investigation perspective, as a basis for a common application of criminal law throughout Europe that can then be extended to other territories;
- establishing a basic procedure to conduct criminal investigation in several areas in the field of environmental crime of high and common impact within Europe;
- carrying out capacity training activities with the support of CEPOL (European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training);
- communicating and disseminating project activities.
RESULTS
The Project LIFE SATEC has dealt with the fight against environmental crime at a strategic level through the strengthening of EnviCrimeNet, a network based on an EU Council Resolution from 2011.
After timely deployment of joint efforts, EnviCrimeNet members successfully incorporated environmental crime among the priorities of EMPACT (European multi-disciplinary platform against criminal threats). For this, it was necessary to redefine the role of EnviCrimeNet to align the objectives of member states within EMPACT. This primarily involved focusing on the strategic level and swiftly responding to newly-emerging threats.
Main project outcomes encompassed:
1. consultations on the regulatory projects from the point of view of criminal investigation, which in turn took into account:
- a thorough evaluation of Directive 2008/99/EC;
- EU Strategy on Tackling Organized Crime 2021-2025;
- Evaluation Proposals Policy Cycle 2022-2025;
- sustainability (referring to the nonfinancial disclosure aspects);
- ETS-Emission Trading Scheme (especially referring to the voluntary credits for CO2).
2. the consolidation of EnviCrimeNet as a NPO and registration.
3. the set up of basic principles of legislative harmonisation regarding environmental crime, from the criminal investigation point of view, taking into account:
- comparative analyses of the approach to environmental crimes, such as how national legislation addresses forest fires;
- analyses of the approach from the criminal and procedural point of view, including activities that threaten flora and fauna.
4. drafting of a basic manual containing common procedures to conduct a criminal investigation, containing the following chapters:
- sanitary waste;
- online investigation of crimes against the environment;
- illegal use of poisoned baits;
- exotic pet trafficking;
- transboundary shipments of plastic waste.
5. training activities related to the procedures previously drafted and coordinated with CEPOL.
6. holding 3 EnviCrimeNet General Assemblies.
7. networking and coordination with other projects and networks outside Europe tackling environmental crime, namely:
- contacts with Jaguar Network in Latin America;
- collaboration with the AMBITUS project to create a network with Southeast Asia;
- collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition to create the EnviCrimeNet African Network;
- I2LEC: International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate
Main project impacts encompassed:
1. policy implications:
- a closer cooperation and collaboration between law enforcement agencies across borders;
- an increased global outlook with international ties, by establishing Latin American, Asian, African networks links.
2. replicability and transferability:
- harmonised understanding of key environmental concepts across member states;
- greater knowledge of the barriers that prevent efficient prosecution of environmental crime.
3. best practice lessons:
- better-trained law enforcement agents;
- harmonised understanding of environmental crime across the EU.
4. social benefits:
- more effective and successful law enforcement agencies;
- increased awareness of crime impact on the environment;
- networking among law enforcement officers;
- facilitation of international cooperation.
