The Impact of EU Criminal Law Policy on the Prevention of Transnational Environmental Crime

Oleksiy Oderiy1, Kostiantyn Orobets2, Olha Brynzanska3, Vladyslav Veklych4 & Viktoriia Shpiliarevych5

https://doi.org/10.62271/pjc.16.3.1155.1172

Abstract
The aim of the study is to analyse the EU’s existing and potential capabilities in criminal law policy to prevent transnational environmental crimes. The study uses statistical analysis, formal legal, comparative legal and descriptive methods. As a result of the work carried out, it was found that today, Ukraine requires special attention in terms of the scale of transnational environmental crimes. About 2,500 environmental crimes committed by Russian companies were recorded in the country. In this regard, the author’s in-depth analysis of the current legislative documents related to transnational environmental crimes provides valuable insights. It is determined that changes in the criminal law policy of the European Union may improve the situation with transnational environmental crime. At the same time, the author considers the prospects for further improvement of criminal law policy, including introducing the concept of “ecocide” into the Rome Statute. The author notes the European Union countries’ best practices in preventing environmental crimes using criminal law instruments
and the SIENA platform’s effectiveness in exchanging information on environmental crimes between countries. The findings of this work can be applied in developing mechanisms for the prevention of transnational environmental crimes.

Keywords: criminal law policy, transnational environmental crimes, ecocide, Rome Statute, war in Ukraine, European Union, crime prevention