A range of human activities have the potential to produce detrimental and sometimes irreversible environmental impacts. Legal experts can play a significant role in interpreting and applying legal instruments for preventing or minimising environmental harm. In order to elaborate on the civil and criminal responsibilities emanating from incidents of environmental harm, a Seminar on Environmental Civil and Criminal Responsiblity was organised between 18 and 20 April, 2005, for forty French-speaking advocates and magistrates from Belgium, Brazil, France, Italy and Switzerland.

Objectives
 Familiarisation with civil and criminal environmental responsibilities.

Outcomes
 National experience exchange on the issue of environmental harm.
 Familiarisation with relevant jurisprudence of the European Union and International Court of Justice.

Partners
 CSDPE
 Swiss Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
 The Bar of the Lawyers of Côme
 The Commune of Côme
 The Commune of Milan
 The European Lawyers Union (UAE)
 The Penal Room Côme and Lecco, the Foundation Il Nibbio (FEIN), the Casino of Campione, the Cooperative Credit BCC, and Freudenberg Politex
 The Region of Lombardie
 The University Center of Brasilia
 The University of Insubria