ΠΔΚ613: Environmental Crimes

This Thematic Unit analyzes environmental law, while also accentuating the protection of environment, which is becoming increasingly important for modern states and their economies. Starting with the Stockholm Declaration under the auspices of the United Nations, this new area of law has gradually become entrenched within the members of the international community, since the prevention and suppression of so-called "green crime" is one of the European Union's primary objectives. Students will become familiar with the legislative and jurisprudential framework for the protection of the environment in Cyprus and Greece, which has now been harmonized with the latest requirements of EU regulations and directives, as interpreted by the Court of Justice of Luxembourg; thus reflecting the regulations in force in all countries of the European Union. The emphasis of the analysis will be given to the various criminal provisions that have been enacted for the protection of the environment and in particular to the relevant responsibility provided for their violation with perpetrators, not only natural persons-citizens, but also corporate entities, including their leaders. Finally, the thematic unit examines (penologically) the treatment of environmental criminals by the criminal justice system.