June 2021 - LIFE PROWhIBIT

Α) Identity of the project

Description/Aim

With an overarching goal to contribute to the circular economy package ‘waste management principles and targets’, as well as prevent, detect and disrupt Environmental Waste Crime, LIFE PROWhIBIT aims to:

1. Develop and implement a National Strategy for preventing and combating Environmental Waste Crime to better protect the environment.
   
   
2. Promote better environmental governance by broadening stakeholder involvement, including NGOs, in policy consultation and implementation.
   
   
3. Improve the flow of knowledge and intelligence on Environmental Waste Crime through the involvement of the various actors in the compliance chain and existing networks (e.g. IMPEL). Foster a better understanding of trends and patterns in order to develop preventative initiatives and disrupt Environmental Waste Crime.
   
   
4. Increase the capacity of the various actors in the compliance chain and harmonize cooperation between them. Actors involved in fighting EWC include:
   -Inspectors
   -Auditors
   -Permitters
   -Customs officers
   -Police officers
   -Coastal police officers
   -Judges
   -Prosecutors
   -Financial Prosecutors

5. Intensify collaboration, inspections and enforcement actions.
   
   
6. Achieve IT-enabled and Intelligence–led Environmental Waste Crime law enforcement, through the use of an Environmental Waste Crime dataset on inspection, investigation and legal case files.
   
   
7. Establish guidelines and provide policy makers with recommendations for preventing and combating Environmental Waste Crime at EU level.

Β) Best Practices

One of the main contributions of LIFE PROWhIBIT  will be the digital platform* (available on the web and on a mobile application) that will allow the instant reporting of a potential Environmental Waste Crime case, followed by an automated and optimized process of case handling by authorities.

This tool is of utmost importance in the battle against Environmental Waste Crime since it will simplify and speed up the process of case reporting and handling, while enabling enhanced collaboration among actors involved as well as proper reporting and data keeping.

* The digital platform for reporting an Environmental Waste Case will be available to the public soon.

C) Results

COMPLETED SUB-ACTIONS & SUD-ACTIONS IN PROGRESS

ACTION A1

• Assessment of the current status of combating waste related environmental crimes and identification of key players and any best practices in Europe and other countries. (IN PROGRESS).
• SWOT analysis on national level and database of national key role players. (COMPLETED).

ACTION B1

• Development of a provisional National Strategy and establishment of a National Coordination Committee on tackling Environmental Waste Crime (IN PROGRESS).

ACTION B2

• Procurement of the Information System and Mobile application (IN PROGRESS).

ACTION B3

• Development of common inspection checklist for Environmental Waste Crime (IN PROGRESS).
• Archiving of past Environmental Crime Cases (IN PROGRESS).

ACTION D1

• Communication Plan and Strategy (COMPLETED).
• Development of dedicated project website (COMPLETED).
• Promotion of the project through social media and newsletters (IN PROGRESS).

ACTION D2

• Brochures, posters, banner, noticeboards, short promo video (COMPLETED).
• Articles & Press releases (IN PROGRESS).

ACTION D3

• Info Days (IN PROGRESS).
• Networking (IN PROGRESS).

ACTION E3

• Risk Management Plan (COMPLETED).
  
  

MAIN EXPECTED OUTCOMES

• Development and implementation of a National Strategy for tackling Environmental Waste Crime in Greece.
• Development and deployment of an Integrated Digital Platform for Environmental Waste Crime cases handling.
• Launch of intelligent waste inspections.
• Establish guidelines and provide policy makers with recommendations, for preventing and combating Environmental Waste Crime at EU level.
  
  

NEXT EVENT

The first Info Day of LIFE PROWhIBIT is taking place on Tuesday, 15^th of June 2021 (10:00-14:15): “ Environmental Waste Crime:  Aspects - Legal Framework – Challenges”.
Agenda
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