Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-10-23-Speech-3-316"
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"en.20021023.8.3-316"2
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"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the European Union has a particular responsibility to guarantee a sustainable trade in endangered species, because we are one of the largest markets for these species and their products. In addition, we must help the developing countries to develop effective strategies for the conservation of wild species.
As you know, in September the Commission proposed guidelines for the Community with a view to the Conference in Santiago. Our proposal was based on respect for the scientific criteria that determine which appendix to CITES different species are listed in. These criteria also include the precautionary principle.
I am delighted to note that the Commission’s viewpoint differs only slightly from the views expressed by the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy. The Commission agrees with the recommendations concerning cetaceans, freshwater and sea turtles and seahorses. I am also pleased that the Committee has decided to introduce a recommendation on the ratification of the Gabarone Amendment, which enables the Community to become a contracting party to CITES.
The Commission supports the inclusion of commercial fish species in the appendices provided that they meet the relevant criteria and that their management is not adequately regulated elsewhere at international level. In the light of this, I concur with your support for the inclusion of basking shark and whale shark in Appendix II to CITES.
The Commission’s opinion on the proposal to include species of Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish in Appendix II is based on the same principle. I realise that there are important biological reasons for this proposal. At the same time, I am also aware that the exploitation of these species is currently regulated by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), to which the Community is a party. Even though it only covers a limited number of members, the catch documentation scheme introduced by CCAMLR contains provisions very similar to those of CITES. In my opinion, CITES listing should be supported if it has the potential to promote the implementation of this plan and encourage other countries to do the same. The Commission considers, however, that the proposal in its current wording will not bring about the achievement of this goal. I hope that agreement can be reached at the Conference on amendments to render the proposal more effective.
I can also confirm that the Commission opposes the resumption of the commercial trade in ivory until it has been clearly demonstrated that this trade will not lead to greater protection of poachers or have a negative impact on the status of elephant populations. It has not been possible to draw conclusions on this matter from the evidence available up to now. It is therefore appropriate to choose a course of action based on the precautionary principle.
We must, however, make a distinction between commercial trade in ivory and the question as to the most appropriate CITES list for the elephants to be entered in. It is undeniable that there is a large number of African elephants in several southern African countries, where the populations are currently covered by Appendix II. These populations are managed well and their numbers are increasing. Therefore, the proposal by Kenya and India to include all the African elephant populations in Appendix I is not justified on the basis of the relevant scientific criteria laid down in CITES. Rather than re-igniting the conflict, the Community should, to my way of thinking, try to find solutions which promote the preservation of the elephants over their whole distribution area, and which enjoy the support of all the states in this distribution area.
Finally, I wish to inform the European Parliament that, in addition to the points you raise in your resolution, a large number of further proposals has been presented to the organisers of the Conference, which would have positive consequences for the conservation of species and which have the support of the Commission. These include a proposal to include a species of true mahogany in the list in Appendix II and proposals on the improvement of CITES’ working methods."@en1
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