EU to get tough on 'green crimes' (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Alix Kroeger
BBC News, Brussels

Plans to turn environmental offences over to the criminal courts across the EU are set to be unveiled by the European Commission.

It marks an extension of the EU's powers, following a landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice in 2006.

It is one of the first times the EU would have the power to make criminal law and set penalties.

Most offences covered by the draft directive relate to the dumping, transport or treatment of waste.
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A draft of the proposal, leaked to the BBC, said "environmental crime often has a transboundary nature...offenders are therefore currently in a position to exploit the existing differences between member states".
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6344849.stm

Read the quote in bold carefully -- it's the whole justification for dealing with certain issues at the broadest level possible, including environmental issues. The Republican dream of "returning authority to the local governments" is just a way of creating differences between local laws which are then open to exploitation by those who don't want their activities restricted by ANY laws.