Currently, member states define what is a crime against the environment, but the European Union's executive arm considers that sanctions vary too much and that many are too lax.

"The proposed directive is crucial to avoid criminals profiting from the existing discrepancies in member states' criminal law systems which damage the European environment," said EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini.

"We cannot allow safe-havens of environmental crime inside the EU," he added.

Under the proposals, the member states would be required to make activities such as the illegal shipment of waste and unlawful trade in endangered species or in ozone-depleting substances criminal offences.

People who commit such offences would face maximum jail sentences of at least five years and fines of at least 750,000 euros (975,000 dollars) when found that they were done intentionally or with serious negligence.

The commission's new proposals will be subject to a vote by qualified majority from the member states and approval from the European Parliament.

The fight against environmental crimes took on new urgency after toxic waste from the Panamanian-registered Probo Koala cargo freighter which had sailed from Europe was dumped in Abidjan last August, killing 10 people.

"The recent hazardous waste disaster in the Ivory Coast shows how environmental crimes can have devastating effects on people and the environment," EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said.

"It also underlines once again how urgent it is to improve the way environmental legislation is enforced in order to avoid such incidents," he added.

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