The Republic of Moldova signed on Wednesday in Strasbourg, alongside Portugal and the European Union, the European Convention on the protection of the environment through criminal law. The document provides states with a legal basis for a coherent response to environmental crime, including cross-border ones, reports IPN.
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, has strongly urged all other member states to sign and ratify the document. “We must accelerate our collective efforts to protect the environment and combat the ecological crimes that threaten our future,” he emphasized.
The Convention represents a response to the so-called “triple planetary crisis” which involves climate change, pollution, and the loss of biodiversity. It complements the Council of Europe’s Environment Strategy. The document also introduces a monitoring mechanism, designed to ensure the implementation of provisions and hold signatory states accountable.
For the treaty to come into force, ten ratifications are required, of which at least eight must come from member states of the Council of Europe. After coming into force, the convention can be opened to other states outside the organization, in the spirit of international cooperation in the field of environmental protection.
