Courts in European Union countries should be given the power to fine companies that commit serious environmental crimes up to at least 5% of their global revenues, the European Commission said Wednesday.
The bloc’s countries also should ensure that their national criminal law codes stipulate maximum prison sentences of at least six years for individuals who commit environmental crimes, rising to a maximum of at least ten years when death or serious injury is caused, the commission said.
Tougher sanctions were needed because “too often in Europe, there is no real penalty for environmental crime,” said EU environment commissioner Virginijus ...