Press Release: Protection of the environment through criminal law: Commission decides to take action in the Court of Justice

The European Commission decided on 31 March 2003 to ask the European Court of Justice to annul a Framework Decision adopted by the Council of the European Union on 27 January 2003 on protection of the environment through criminal law. When adopting the Decision the Council disregarded the Commission proposal for a directive on the same subject. The Commission challenges the legal basis for the Council Framework Decision. The Commission believes that its proposed directive, if adopted, would secure better protection of the environment through criminal law than the Framework Decision.