Today, 18 September, France signed the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law (CETS No. 228).

The Convention provides a comprehensive framework for preventing and combating environmental crime, strengthening international co-operation and enhancing the effectiveness of national responses to environmental offences.

France’s signature marks an important step towards strengthening the protection of the environment through criminal law. It also reflects the growing recognition of the close links between environmental protection, the enjoyment of human rights and the rule of law.

France joins the European Union and seven other member States: Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Sweden, Portugal, the Republic of Moldova and Montenegro, in supporting the new Council of Europe Convention and its objectives.