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RECOMMENDATION (05824/2026 – C100035/20026 – 2025/0244(NLE))

On the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law

A-10-2026-0156

Committee on Legal Affairs · Rapporteur: Ilhan Kyuchyuk

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament gives its consent to the Council decision concluding the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law.

Committee position. The rapporteur fully recommends that Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the new Convention.

Key points

  1. The Convention replaces the 1998 Convention and sets binding international standards for criminalising serious environmental offences with effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions.
  2. It strengthens prevention measures, international cooperation, cross-border investigations, information exchange, and statistical data collection.
  3. The Convention is consistent with Directive (EU) 2024/1203, but EU member states may go beyond both instruments when implementing them.
  4. The Convention enters into force upon ten ratifications, including at least eight by Council of Europe member states, and is open to non-member states that participated in its elaboration and to the EU.

Who is affected

  • EU member states, which will apply criminal law standards consistent with EU law and may exceed them.
  • Neighbouring countries, which upon the Convention's entry into force will apply criminal law standards consistent with the EU's.

Figures and deadlines

  • Ten ratifications, including at least eight by Council of Europe member states, are required for entry into force.

Legal basis: Article 83(2) and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union