The European Union and wildlife trafficking

In order to increase cooperation and the exchange of information, Member States should establish inter-agency committees, memoranda of understanding and other instruments related to the activities of all their enforcement agencies. Access to existing resources, tools and channels of communication for the exchange of information on the enforcement of Regulation 338/97 should be improved. National focal points for the exchange of wildlife trade information and intelligence should be set up. Information about significant trends, seizures, court judgments and penalties should be regularly exchanged at the EU level. Cooperation with enforcement agencies in other Member States and the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) should be improved. Member States should assist other Member States in capacity building, making available to them awareness-raising tools and materials and assist each other in the care of confiscated live animals. Cooperation with the CITES bodies and third countries should also be strengthened.

In 2014, however, the Commission found that these recommendations "have been implemented unevenly across the EU" and that they had not addressed the organised crime angle of wildlife trafficking (see Commission Communication on the EU approach against wildlife trafficking). It thus launched a stakeholder consultation on the future EU approach to wildlife trafficking. Overall, 86 answers were received, including from 16 EU Member States, the United Nations, the CITES Secretariat and 35 non-governmental organisations. The answers may be summarized as follows:

Adequacy of the existing EU policy and legislative framework

The large majority of answers considered that the existing legislative framework did not require changes, but uneven level of enforcement presented a major problem. Penalties vary within the EU and are often insufficient; organised wildlife crime is not yet properly addressed; and better cooperation within the Commission is necessary. One Member State held that the real problem was a lack of resources.

Necessity for an EU action plan on wildlife trafficking

The vast majority of answers supported the elaboration of an action plan which should build on the 2007 Recommendation and demonstrate the EU’s political commitment. However, it was crucial to ensure that commitments were properly monitored as to their implementation; timelines and reporting requirements should be part of such a plan.