Waste Crime in EU Environmental Law
Waste Crime in EU Environmental Law
Keywords:
Waste Crime, European Union, European Union LawAbstract
This paper presents the steps undertaken by the European Union (EU) to combat waste crime through implements of the Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR) and Environmental Crime Directive (ECD). First, it shows that waste crime in EU law regulated primarily by key aspects of the WSR and ECD, control shipments to prevent illegal disposal and trafficking, strengthen action against illegal waste management, and specify types and levels of criminal penalties. Next, it also shows that EU environmental law, enforced under the responsibility of EU Member States and overseen by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), ensures waste crimes are prosecuted across the EU. Finally, it critically demonstrates an ability to produce criticism of the possible decisions of the CJEU in the area of EU environmental waste crime. This paper outlines observations, gives some recommendations for the functioning of the EU legislation in practice and concludes with some thoughts for the future.
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