The proposed legislation seeks to implement an EU directive by raising prison sentences and fines for various environmental offenses. Offenders causing severe environmental damage, such as oil spills, could face a minimum of one year in prison, while illegal disposal of hazardous waste may incur sentences ranging from six months to ten years. Additionally, authorities would gain the ability to conduct undercover investigations for serious environmental crimes. Europol has indicated that environmental crime, including illegal waste trafficking, can be as lucrative for organized crime as drug trafficking, yet current penalties remain insufficient.