Brussels, 18/07/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 18 July, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Karmenu Vella, stated that the European Commission was 100% in favour of continuing the international ban on the ivory trade. The Commissioner was eager to clarify a misunderstanding contained in a petition by the Avaaz organisation ahead of the 17th meeting of the parties to the International Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species, which will take place in Johannesburg this September (COP 17, South Africa).
The Commissioner asserted that it was "opposed to the proposals tabled by some Parties at the next CITES meeting in September 2016 (CITES CoP17) to resume international ivory trade". He deplored the fact that "Unfortunately this petition gives the wrong impression of the European Commission's position on ivory trade".
The Avaaz petition, 'Europe: Stop the elephant Slaughter!' calls on Karmenu Vella, European Environment Ministers and the Parties to the CITES Convention to close down the national ivory markets, support a total ban on the global ivory trade, which is leading to poaching and register all African elephants in Annex I of the CITES classification, to guarantee them an optimum level of protection. By Monday afternoon, this petition had received more than 1.3 million signatures.
On his blog on 8 July last, the Commissioner indicated that the EU's priority for COP 17 CITES was to "encourage action that has a direct impact on elephant poaching and ivory trafficking, such as stepping up the application of the law, the fight against corruption, support for local communities and reducing demand for products in wild species of illegal origin". He also appealed for the full application of the trade sanctions included in the CITES.
In his reply to the Avaaz petition, the Commissioner emphasised that "the European Commission again encourages African countries to come to a common position on the best way to ensure the survival of the African elephant". He added that "The EU and its Member States have proven themselves to be fully committed to working with African countries to improve wildlife conservation and to really crack down on wildlife trafficking”. He pointed out that a strengthened partnership with source countries is also one of the three pillars of the EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking adopted last February and that he saw the COP17 as "a crucial opportunity to reinforce the fight against wildlife trafficking". Another appeal was launched on 15 July by 59 nature conservation organisations and foundations, as well citizens from the whole world. This calls on the EU to support animal protection during the next meeting of the parties to the CITES Convention. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)