Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-03-16-Speech-4-240"
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"en.20000316.9.4-240"2
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"Mr President, the European Community is not a party to CITES. The present text of the Convention permits only individual countries to join. The Gaborone amendment to the CITES text from 1983 would allow us to become a party to the Convention. However, this amendment has not yet entered into force due to the insufficient number of CITES parties who have ratified it. The Commission continues its diplomatic efforts to ensure that a sufficient number of ratifications are made in order to allow the Community to play a more proactive role in this important Convention.
Notwithstanding the fact that we are not yet a party, the Community possesses legislation to implement CITES. This legislation is amongst the most thorough and comprehensive of its kind in the world. The Commission's policy is based on both conservation and sustainable use, principles recognising that peoples and states are the best protectors of their own wild fauna and flora.
Concerning the specific matters in Parliament's resolutions, we agree on the need to step up enforcement measures in the field of wildlife trade in India. We will approach the Indian authorities along the lines suggested, and continue to do all we can to support and further the objectives of CITES.
Concerning the proposals for the forthcoming Conference of the CITES parties, the Commission has yet to adopt a formal proposal. However, our general orientation on the major issues is as follows:
On whales, the Community's position should be unambiguous. No return to commercial whaling until the International Whaling Commission deems that the appropriate management controls are in place. We should therefore oppose the Japanese and Norwegian proposals to restart the trade.
On African elephants, we favour the maintenance of the status quo until a clear picture emerges of the impact of the international trade that was permitted in 1997. We should not support any of the proposals that have been made.
Concerning the Cuban sea-turtle proposals, the Community should oppose the resumption of the regular annual trade in shells. We need, however, to hold a more open position on the disposal of the Cuban shell stockpiles until we know the position of the neighbouring countries to Cuba.
Finally, on sharks, there is cause for concern, and the proposal on basking sharks should, in particular, be supported. Here, however, CITES will need to work closely with regional fisheries bodies and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation."@en1
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