33 ORGANISATIONS EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AT CITES CoP19 HELD IN NOVEMBER 2022

33 ORGANISATIONS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AT CITES CoP19 HELD IN NOVEMBER 2022

Read the Full Letter Sent to the Vice President of the European Commission on the 16th of January 2022:

The letter was written by Will Travers, President of the Species Survival Network and on behalf of the thirty-three organisations.

Around one million species are presently threatened by extinction, and one of the main drivers is direct exploitation. In the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the European Commission committed to halting global biodiversity decline and combating illegal wildlife trade. We commend the EU for sponsoring a significant number of proposals intended to increase international protections for marine animals, plants and other species. However, regrettably the EU adopted positions opposing twelve proposals submitted to CITES CoP19 by other Parties, proposals which sought to improve protections for more than 200 animal species, including the common hippopotamus, African elephants, glass frogs and many reptile species, from exploitation for international trade.

It is noted that the EU ultimately did not block consensus on many of these proposals, after acknowledging overwhelming support from the other CITES Parties. However, we are deeply concerned that the EU positions – had they prevailed – would have favoured the continuation of unregulated, and often illegal trade, in a large number of species, undermining important conservation initiatives taken by range countries.