Brussels – The European Union (EU) has joined the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to help fight against wildlife trafficking, the European Commission announced on Wednesday.
“The aim of CITES is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival, as wildlife trafficking has reached unprecedented levels in recent years.
“Joining CITES makes the EU a stronger global actor.
“Now the priority is to strengthen the convention and the fight against wildlife trafficking,’’ the commission explained in the press release.
The commission further said that the European Commission services had started the preparatory work for an EU Action Plan against wildlife trafficking for which the EU accession to CITES constituted an important milestone.
“Joining the CITES Convention is a big step in the preparation of our action plan to step up the fight against wildlife trafficking.
“CITES is the best response the international community has in the fight against wildlife criminals and their illegal, unsustainable trade.
“It allows us to use the expertise gained in dismantling other illegal networks,’’ Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, said. (Xinhua/NAN)