Criminal code raises fear over EU powers / Proposals to launch ‘ecological’ crime laws

Article discusses the significance and repercussions of the European Commission's decision, February 2007 to create common criminal rules for environmental crimes. This is seen by some as a sign that the Commission will take full advantage of the 2005 ECJ ruling in ECJ Case C176/03 to stealthily advance EU powers.

European Commission: DG Environment: Resources; Legislation: Crime http://ec.europa.eu/environment/crime/index.htm

European Commission: DG Freedom, Security and Justice: Criminal justice: Environmental crime http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/criminal/environmental/fsj_criminal_environmental_en.htm

European Court of Justice: ECJ Case C-176/03 http://curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf?language=en&num=C-176/03

BBC News, 9.2.07: EU to get tough on 'green crimes' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6344849.stm

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