Brussels, 21/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in Luxembourg on Monday 20 June, EU environment ministers gave their backing to an EU action plan to tackle the lucrative criminal trade in species of wild fauna and flora (see EUROPE 11501). The Council's unanimous conclusions were adopted only four months after the Commission's proposal was brought forward, ahead of the next conference of the parties to the CITES convention, in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 24 September to 5 October.
European Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella, speaking to the press, welcomed the Council's decision.
“The member states share a sense of urgency. This year, UNEP and Interpol have noted a 26% increase in this crime compared with 2014”, he stated.
WWF, too, welcomed the ministers' approval of the “ambitious EU Action Plan to boost the region's collective efforts to end wildlife trafficking” but it feels that it lacks concrete commitments on financial resources, national legislative amendments concerning sanctions, and reporting.
Ministers “should have been even bolder. (They) failed to pledge the necessary financial and human resources to back up their words and prove they are really serious about fighting wildlife trafficking”, said Sally Nicholson, Head of Development Policy and Finance at the WWF European Policy Office. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)