The EU plan of action proposed by the Commission for tackling the trafficking of wild fauna and flora is a very positive thing but MEPs meeting in Strasbourg on Thursday 24 November, believe that it should be further strengthened.
To this end, they voted by a very large majority (567 votes for, 5 against, with 39 abstentions) to call for a total and immediate ban on the ivory and rhinoceros horn trade and called for the harmonisation of penalites to apply to those committing this environmental crime.
Catherine Bearder (ALDE, United Kingdom), rapporteur on this dossier (see EUROPE 11646) pointed out, “The trafficking in wild spaces is the fourth most important criminal activity in the world. It is high time that it was tackled seriously. Sentences must be very harsh to reflect the seriousness of the crime and should be the same throughout the EU.
The resolution adopted by Parliament calls on the member states of the EU to use all available instruments, including cooperation with the financial sector, to establish links between this lucrative trafficking (worth €30 billion a year) and other forms of organised crime, such as money laundering and the funding of terrorist militias and groups.
MEPs call on EU leaders to engage with social network operators, search engines and online sales bodies to strengthen control of illegal trafficking of these species online. They also call for the elaboration of specific policies to combat this crime.
Parliament is committed to the three objectives pursued in the action plan: the prevention of trafficking and fighting against the causes underlying it; strengthening and implementing existing rules and cooperation between countries of origin, destination and transit. The Council had already expressed it's support for this plan back in June this year (see EUROPE 11577). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)