Page 67 - Supplemento 2-2016 (ENG)

Tackling Environmental Crime throUgh standardized Methodologies

Environmental crime: the role of waste policy and waste management
in Europe

Lanfranco Fanti
Representative of the European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime
Affairs and Fisheries

During the course of this event, we have heard very Impressive and pas-
sionate speeches, at the presence of three Italian Ministers. I would say this is
a strong sign of how, at the national level, climate change and environmental
crime are taken very seriously and projects like TECUM are a clear step in the
right direction. My focus is on the EU level, where we have a strong European
legislation made up of treaties, as well regulations and directives to protect the
environment.

The EU is so focused environmental issues that today, as we are all gathe-
red here in Rome, the highest representatives of the European institutions, the
President of the European Parliament and the President of the Commission,
together with the Italian Government, are delivering the most important
European award, the Charlemont Prize, to Pope Francis for his Incredible com-
mitment to environmental, social and humanitarian causes through his
Encyclical Letter “Laudato sii”.

As we all know, we have new legislation which needs to be translated into
national rules. What Is the missing point? The environment is suffering not
only because of systematic reasons but also because these rules are often not
well-implemented. I wish to take the opportunity to perhaps address today’s
prestigious and sensitive audience made up of legislators and law enforcers to
highlight the importance of implementation. There are a number of good net-
works, regulations, directives, laws that only need to be implemented.

The European Commission has recently undertaken a Fitness Check of
the monitoring and reporting obligations resulting from EU environmental
legislation.

As part of the Fitness Check, the EC has launched an online public con-
sultation, seeking the views of stakeholders and the public alike from all 28 EU

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