Yesterday, EU Ministers of the Environment unanimously endorsed the Action Plan published by the European Commission last February, expressing deep concern about the increase in illegal wildlife trafficking and its detrimental effect on biodiversity and sustainable development. Illegal wildlife trade has escalated exponentially in recent years, and has attracted the involvement of organised criminal networks as a result of it being considered a low risk – high return activity. The EU Action Plan now empowers Member States to act coherently and then more efficiently against wildlife trafficking.

Prevention, stronger enforcement and global partnership are the 3 strands of the EU Action Plan. This crucial document has been called for since the European Parliament’s Motion for a Resolution on Wildlife Crime was submitted in January 2014. During the last years, Eurogroup for Animals in collaboration with its member organisations, has participated to the consultation process on the EU approach to wildlife trafficking, asking for the prompt publication of the Action Plan and submitting a list of priorities that have been mostly incorporated in the adopted text.

Contact :
Ilaria Di Silvestre: T: +32 (0)2 740 08 24 | Email: i.disilvestre@eurogroupforanimals.org