EU Agenda on wildlife
European regulations and legislation regarding the legal and illegal trade in wildlife
eu policy on wildlife
A timeline
Action Plan Against Wildlife Trafficking
The European Commission adopts the revised EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking. Adopted in 2016 and active until 2020, the EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking detailed 32 lines of actions for prevention, enforcement, and global partnerships to combat wildlife trafficking. FOUR PAWS shared its recommendations for the revision of the Action Plan.
See our position here.
European Parliament resolutions on CITES CoP19
The European Parliament adopts its resolution on the key objectives for the CITES CoP19. The resolution takes many of our recommendations on board. MEPs urge the Parties to prohibit commercial trade, without exception, of all five species of big cats and calls for the closure of tiger farms.
Environmental Crime Directive
The Commission publishes its proposal for a new Environmental Crime Directive, which defines a number of serious offences that harm the environment and requires EU Member States to introduce effective and proportionate penalties constituting a deterrent for such offences. Although FOUR PAWS considers the Commission’s proposal as a solid basis for fighting environmental crime, there are still some important issues that are not addressed.
Read our position here.
INI Report on Biodiversity Strategy 2030
The European Parliament adopts its position to the Biodiversity Strategy 2030 through an Own Initiative Report on the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030. MEPs call on the EU to end the commercial trade in endangered species and their parts, as it has adverse effects on biodiversity, animal welfare and provides a cover for the illegal trade in wildlife.
Biodiversity Strategy 2030
The European Commission adopts the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030 as key delivery of the European Union’s Green Deal. Amongst other things, the Strategy commits to revise the Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking to step up efforts against wildlife trade. However, the Strategy does not intend to restrict the legal trade in endangered species such as tigers. For genuine protection of biodiversity, the commercial trade and abuse of endangered species whether from the wild or captive-bred must end.