Today, the very, very sad news reached the ENPE Board that Antonio Vercher Noguera passed away totally unexpectedly this weekend at the age of 72. That is a genuine shock. From early days, Antonio, as the foremost environmental public prosecutor in Spain, has been a great friend to and a source of inspiration for ENPE, the European Network of Prosecutors for the Environment. He made a deep impression on all who met him with his commitment to the protection of the environment and his liveliness and incredible energy. In his capacity as director of the ENPE Board, he contributed greatly to the network and its activities. On occasion, he was not afraid to be critical, but it was always clear to everyone that, when he was, this criticism was meant to be constructive.
Antonio was also a long time friend. He and I met a few times per year and through his liveliness, that was always a real pleasure. Each time, I was struck by and perhaps even a bit envious of his energy. And more often than we met, with a not wholly justified optimism about my level of Spanish, he sent me an app with a link to an article or a book which he had just published or a news item in which he appeared. Whenever he did and with my admiration growing over the years, I always asked him : ‘Antonio, where do you find the time and the energy to do all this beside your job ?’ His answer invariably was : ‘I think environmental enforcement is important and I like writing.’
What I must certainly mention is that it was thanks to Antonio that on two occasions, an ENPE working group could stay and meet in the very hospitable venue of the training center in Valsaín and its beautiful surroundings. Those ENPE Members who were there, share the fondest memories of these workshops.
Our latest – and sadly enough last – contacts date only from last week. Shaun and I invited him to speak at a conference later this year on the subject of the independence of the judiciary and the prosecutor. This theme was extremely important to him. In Palermo in May 2022, I was sitting next to him at a commemoration service for the judges Falcone and Borsellino. We were both moved. It did not surprise me therefore that within an hour or so, Antonio said yes to our invitation. It is an enormous pity that we shall not hear his elaboration on this topic. On behalf of the whole ENPE Board and membership I wish to record that the environment has lost a voice and we shall miss a friend.
We extend our sincere condolences to Antonio’s family and many friends.
Rob de Rijck
April 13, 2026
