EU pushes for further tightening of wildlife trade rules at global summit on wildlife conservation

On 24 September 2016 representatives of 182 countries and the European Union gathered at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations (UN) Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES CoP17) in Johannesburg, South Africa to agree tangible measures to better protect some of the planet's most vulnerable species.

The EU participated for the first time as a full member of CITES and sought stricter international measures against wildlife trafficking, in line with the EU action plan on wildlife trafficking.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: MEPs’ priorities for safeguarding endangered species http://www.europeansources.info/record/meps-priorities-for-safeguarding-endangered-species/

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Council Decision establishing the position to be adopted on the European Union's behalf with regard to certain proposals submitted to the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP 17) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Johannesburg, South Africa, 24 September – 5 October 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-council-decision-establishing-the-position-to-be-adopted-on-the-european-unions-behalf-with-regard-to-certain-proposals-submitted-to-the-17th-meeting-of-the-conference-of-the-parties/

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/16/3145, 23.09.16:EU position for the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-3145_en.htm

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