On 8 July 2026, the European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution granting consent to the Council decision on the conclusion of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law on behalf of the European Union. The resolution, based on Article 83(2) TFEU under the consent procedure, allows the EU to formally accede to the convention, which was signed in Luxembourg on 14 May 2025. The Parliament's approval is a procedural step that enables the Council to conclude the agreement, thereby aligning EU law with international standards on environmental criminal law.
The resolution instructs the President of the European Parliament to forward the Parliament's position to the Council, the Commission, EU member states' governments and parliaments, and the Council of Europe. The legal basis for consent is Article 83(2) in conjunction with Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a), TFEU. The resolution also references Directive (EU) 2024/1203 on the protection of the environment through criminal law, ensuring coherence between the convention and existing EU legislation.
By granting consent, the European Parliament enables the EU to strengthen the legal framework for prosecuting environmental crimes across member states, enhance cross-border judicial cooperation, and reinforce the EU's commitment to environmental protection through criminal law enforcement. The convention harmonizes criminal law measures for environmental protection, complementing the EU's own directive. The resolution was adopted by the Parliament's plenary, following a recommendation from the Committee on Legal Affairs. The Council is now expected to formally conclude the convention on behalf of the EU.