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Follow up to the European Parliament non-legislative resolution on the EU strategic objectives for the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 24 November to 5 December 2025
B100450/2025
Rapporteurs: Manuela RIPA (EPP / DE), César LUENA (S&D / ES), Antonio DECARO (S&D / IT), Pietro FIOCCHI (ECR / IT), Michal WIEZIK (Renew / SK), Maria OHISALO (Greens/EFA / FI), Martin GÜNTHER (The Left / DE)
European Parliament resolution on the EU strategic objectives for the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 24 November to 5 December 2025
References: 2025/2618(RSP) / B10-0450/2025 / P10_TA(2025)0255
(2025/2618(RSP))
Date of adoption of the resolution: 23 October 2025
– having regard to the report of 4 May 2019 by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) entitled ‘Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services’,
Competent Parliamentary Committee: Committee on Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI)
– having regard to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species,
Brief analysis/ assessment of the resolution and requests made in it:
– having regard to the precautionary principle, as enshrined in Article 191(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
The resolution outlines the European Parliament’s priorities for the 20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 24 November to 5 December 2025. It reaffirms the Convention’s central role in ensuring that trade in wild fauna and flora does not threaten species survival and stresses adaptation to emerging challenges such as increased demand, biodiversity loss, wildlife cybercrime, climate change, and traceability deficiencies (para. 1-3). The text calls for precautionary, science-based implementation, enhanced enforcement, and stronger cooperation among Parties, and urges closer alignment with related international instruments, including the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (para. 4-5, 28). On implementation and compliance, Parties are asked to strengthen enforcement, apply CITES instruments consistently, and use the Compliance Assistance Programme effectively (para. 6-7). Economic arguments to lift trade suspensions are rejected (para. 8). Application of compliance processes and improved traceability systems are requested (para. 9-11). The resolution highlights the protection of whistle-blowers, journalists, rangers, and environmental defenders (para. 12) and calls for deeper cooperation between customs, police, Europol, Eurojust, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (para. 14). Financial investigations, anti-corruption measures, and asset recovery are to be integrated into enforcement (para. 17-21), supported by greater data sharing and digitalisation (para. 22-23). The Parliament requests clear guidance on ranching for aquatic species (para. 32), improved oversight of the CITES Secretariat (para. 34), and public access to the Union’s positions for CITES meetings (para. 35). Regarding resources, sufficient financial and human means are sought for the effective operation of CITES, prioritising its core mandate (paras. 36-38). The next Union multiannual financial framework should include targeted funding to combat wildlife crime (para. 39). The resolution supports aligning the CITES strategic vision 2021–2030 with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and ensuring adequate capacity-building and cooperation (para. 40-43). CITES is recognised as key to reducing zoonotic disease risks linked to wildlife trade. Parties are urged to adopt a dedicated One Health resolution, strengthen collaboration with health authorities, and ensure animal welfare standards in trade chains. The Commission and Member States are called to develop a coordinated response to domestic and wild animal meat smuggled into the EU as well as integrated coexistence strategies (para. 44-50). The Parliament calls for adopting an EU-wide positive list for pets, strengthening ivory and hunting-trophy restrictions, expanding the TRACES database, and supporting global criminalisation of illegal wildlife imports (para. 51-60). It urges the Commission to present legislative proposals to criminalise the trade and keeping of illegally sourced wildlife, and highlights the need to better manage confiscated live animals (para. 64-66; 72-73). The resolution urges the Commission to develop guidelines to address wildlife cybercrime (para. 74). It supports uplisting of threatened taxa such as sharks, elephants, and big cats (para. 75-84), stricter regulation of aquatic species and corals (para. 85-90), and renewed commitments for elephants, rhinos, pangolins, and vaquita (para. 95-104). Closure of domestic ivory markets and stronger protection of species affected by the exotic pet and trophy trades are also urged (para. 99-108).
– having regard to the report published in 2024 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations entitled ‘The State of the World’s Forests – Forest-sector innovations towards a more sustainable future’,
Response to the requests in the resolution and overview of the action taken, or intended to be taken, by the Commission:
– having regard to the forthcoming 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to be held from 24 November to 5 December 2025 in Uzbekistan,
As regards the request on preventing the circumvention of trade restrictions (para. 24), the Commission continues to support measures at both Union and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) levels to ensure that trade prohibitions are not undermined by allegedly non-commercial transactions. This work is conducted under the revised European Union (EU) Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking (COM(2022)581) and in close cooperation with Member States and other partners, including through regular meetings of the EU CITES Enforcement Group.
– having regard to UN General Assembly resolutions on illicit trafficking of wildlife, most recently Resolution 77/325, adopted on 25 August 2023,
As regards the request on transparency in the preparation of the EU position for CITES meetings (para. 35), the Commission publishes proposals for Council decisions establishing the Union position shortly after their adoption. Publication of the final Council decisions lies within the competence of the Council.
– having regard to the report of May 2024 by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime entitled ‘World Wildlife Crime Report – Trafficking in Protected Species’,
As regards engagement of stakeholders before and during the meetings of the Conference of the Parties (CoPs) to CITES (para. 35), the Commission has facilitated the participation of Members of the European Parliament in the Union delegation as observers at CoP20 and will provide regular briefings and updates during their participation at CoP20.
– having regard to the 2025 publication of Europol entitled ‘The changing DNA of serious and organised crime – European Union Serious and Organise Crime Threat Assessment’ (EU-SOCTA report),
As regards monitoring and strengthening rules on ivory trade (para. 27, 53), strict measures were adopted in 2021 (C/2021/9168). In line with the Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking, the Commission will monitor their implementation by Member States and their results to ensure their effectiveness and alignment with international obligations.
– having regard to CITES Resolution Conf. 12.3 (Rev. CoP19) entitled ‘Permits and certificates’,
As regards ensuring adequate resources for CITES implementation and enforcement (para. 36, 39), the Commission will continue to strive to mobilise sufficient human and financial resources in support of the Convention’s core mandate through existing programmes.
– having regard to CITES Decision 19.66 entitled ‘Review of Resolution Conf. 11.3 (Rev. CoP19) on Compliance and enforcement’,
As regards the request to develop, jointly with Member States, a coordinated Union response to the smuggling of domestic and wild animal meat (para. 48), trafficking in bushmeat is regularly discussed at meetings of the European Union CITES Enforcement Authorities, where Member States exchange information and best practices. The European Union also supports countries of origin, for instance, through the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme. This programme, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), the Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), aims to improve wildlife hunting regulation, strengthen community-based conservation and reduce demand for wild meat, particularly in urban areas.
– having regard to CITES Resolution Conf. 17.6 (Rev. CoP19) entitled ‘Prohibiting, preventing, detecting and countering corruption, which facilitates activities conducted in violation of the Convention’,
As regards requests concerning the One Health approach and the reduction of zoonotic disease risks (para. 48-50), the Commission promotes the integration of biodiversity, animal welfare and public health into wildlife trade policies. In addition, the EU supports authorities in non-EU countries, particularly in Asia and Africa, for instance, by targeting high-risk facilities through the Safety across Asia For the global Environment (SAFE) project, implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the FAO and the United Nations Environment Programme, and the SWM Programme, which supports legal and sustainable wildlife use and demand reduction in partner countries.
– having regard to CITES Decisions 19.81 to 19.83 entitled ‘Wildlife crime linked to the Internet’,
As regards the request on Union leadership in the global fight against wildlife trafficking (para. 51), the EU remains a leading actor in addressing this challenge. The Commission works with Member States, Europol, Eurojust, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other members of the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) to strengthen enforcement, support third countries and advance the inclusion of provisions criminalising illegal wildlife trade in international frameworks.
– having regard to CITES Resolution Conf. 12.10 (Rev.CoP15) entitled ‘Registration of operations that breed Appendix-I animal species in captivity for commercial purposes’,
As regards the requests on the establishment of an EU-wide positive list for pets (para. 54, 55), the Commission is conducting a study to assess the need for, feasibility and added value of such a list, taking into account animal welfare, conservation and public health aspects.
– having regard to CITES Decision 14.69 entitled ‘Captive-bred and ranched specimens’,
As regards the request to monitor the implementation and enforcement of the provisions on registration of captive-breeding operations (para. 56), the Commission will discuss with Member States any challenges encountered in this regard.
– having regard to CITES Resolutions Conf. 12.5 (Rev. CoP19) entitled ‘Conservation of and trade in tigers and other Appendix-I Asian big cat species’ and Conf. 9.14 (Rev. CoP17) entitled ‘Conservation of and trade in African and Asian rhinoceroses’,
As regards the request for stricter rules for trophy imports (para. 57), the Commission – in consultation with experts from EU Member States’ competent Scientific Authorities – is assessing the need to extend stricter import conditions for hunting trophies under the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation.
– having regard to CITES Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP19) entitled ‘Trade in elephant specimens’,
As regards the request to improve traceability and data on wildlife trade (para. 58), the Commission is examining options to enhance monitoring of trade in CITES and non-CITES species, including through the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). Any potential adaptations will be assessed in light of feasibility, efficiency and resource implications.
– having regard to CITES Decisions 18.226 (Rev. CoP19), 19.107 and 19.108 entitled ‘Trade in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)’,
As regards the request to include a new paragraph in the 2025 UN General Assembly Resolution A/79/L.96 on tackling illicit trafficking in wildlife through the criminalisation of imports of any wildlife or wildlife produce acquired in contravention of national laws (para. 60), the Commission notes that the adopted 2025 UN General Assembly Resolution on tackling illicit trafficking in wildlife (A/79/L.96) addresses this point. Its para. 6 calls upon Parties to make illicit trafficking in protected species a serious crime under national legislation, enabling effective international cooperation for transnational offenses. Para. 5, 8, and 9 further call for action to strengthen national enforcement, penalisation, and reporting mechanisms, as well as the treatment of wildlife crime as a predicate offense for money laundering, among others.
– having regard to CITES Decisions 19.275 to 19.277 entitled ‘Taxonomy and nomenclature of African elephants (Loxodonta spp.)’, 18.117 (Rev. CoP19), 18.118 and 18.119 (Rev. CoP19) entitled ‘Closure of domestic ivory markets’, and 19.156, 19.157, 18.184 (Rev. CoP19), 18.185 (Rev. CoP19), entitled ‘Stocks and stockpiles (elephant ivory)’,
As regards the request to address trade and keeping of illegally sourced wildlife regardless of their listing status in the CITES Appendices (para. 64), the Commission is analysing the results of the recent study on the need for, added value, and feasibility of criminalising all trade in illegal wildlife across the EU to determine possible follow-up at Union level in light of feasibility, efficiency and resource implications. The Commission also continues to work closely with competent Member State authorities, Europol, Eurojust, and international partners to strengthen enforcement against wildlife trafficking.
– having regard to CITES Decisions 19.68 to 19.70 entitled ‘Review of the National Ivory Action Plan Process’,
As regards the requests related to demand reduction and the rehabilitation of confiscated wildlife (para. 65, 66), the Commission continues to support awareness-raising initiatives within the Union and in third countries, and funds related capacity-building under the Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking. According to the first Progress Report on the implementation of the Action Plan (for the year 2023), many Member States have carried out demand reduction and public awareness activities. A pilot project focusing on reducing demand for exotic pets, in particular reptiles and amphibians, is underway. The European Union also funds demand reduction initiatives in third countries, including the project China’s Champions of Change II, implemented by TRAFFIC, which promotes behaviour change and strengthens policy and enforcement cooperation between the EU and China to curb the consumption of illegally traded wildlife products.
– having regard to the CITES Resolution Conf. 17.9 entitled ‘Trade in hunting trophies of species listed in Appendix I or II’,
As regards the request to ensure coordination in implementing environmental and digital policies (para. 71), the Commission ensures coherence between the Environmental Crime Directive (Directive (EU) 2024/1203), the Wildlife Trade Regulation (Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97) and its Implementing Regulations, the revised Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking and the Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065), promoting consistent application across Member States.
– having regard to CITES Decisions 19.218 to 19.221 entitled ‘Eels (Anguilla spp.)’,
As regards the request to address wildlife cybercrime (para. 74), the Commission will prepare guidelines on tackling illegal online trade in wildlife under the Digital Services Act. This work is complemented by ongoing support to projects monitoring online trafficking, such as ECO-SOLVE, and promoting inter-agency cooperation.
– having regard to IUCN Resolution 132 entitled ‘Controlling and monitoring trade in croaker swim bladders to protect target croakers and reduce incidental catches of threatened marine megafauna’, adopted at the 2021 IUCN World Conservation Congress,
As regards the requests related to species-specific measures (para. 85), in addition to the submission of the proposal for listing of all Anguillid eels in CITES Appendix II, the Commission, together with Member States, supports the adoption of a strong resolution on trade, conservation and management of anguillid eel species (CoP20 Doc. 87).
– having regard to the report of the Scientific Committee (SC69B) of the International Whaling Commission, adopted on 3 May 2024,
As regards the request to ensure adoption at CITES CoP20 of a resolution on the conservation and trade regulation of croaker (Sciaenidae) species (para. 89), no such resolution has been proposed for discussion or adoption at CITES CoP20 to the Commission’s knowledge. The Commission and Member States will continue to monitor developments concerning Sciaenidae species within CITES and other relevant international fora and will assess appropriate action based on available scientific evidence and trade data.
– having regard to CITES Decisions 19.169 to 19.174 entitled ‘Disposal of confiscated specimens’ and CITES Resolution Conf. 17.8 (Rev. CoP19) entitled ‘Disposal of illegally traded and confiscated specimens of CITES-listed species’,
As regards the requests related to species listings and protection measures (para. 20, 75-108), the Commission, together with Member States, assesses all proposals for amendments to the CITES Appendices on the basis of the best available scientific information and consistency with the Convention’s objectives and listing criteria. The EU position is guided by science, feasibility and the need to maintain focus on the core mandate of CITES.
– having regard to the Commission communication of 9 November 2022 entitled ‘Revision of the EU action plan against wildlife trafficking’ (COM(2022)0581),
– having regard to Directive (EU) 2024/1203 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on the protection of the environment through criminal law and replacing Directives 2008/99/EC and 2009/123/EC (revised Environmental Crime Directive),
– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act),
– having regard to its resolution of 9 June 2021 on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives,
– having regard to its resolution of 5 October 2022 on the EU strategic objectives for the19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), held in Panama from 14 to 25 November 2022,
– having regard to Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, which aims to promote the maintenance of biodiversity and which forms the cornerstone of Europe’s nature conservation policy, and Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds,
– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’),
– having regard to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and, in particular, to Target 4: Halt Species Extinction, Protect Genetic Diversity, and Manage Human-Wildlife Conflicts and to Target 5: Ensure Sustainable, Safe and Legal Harvesting and Trade of Wild Species,
– having regard to the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in particular, to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 on conservation of seas and marine resources and SDG 15 on protection, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems,
– having regard to the questions to the Council and to the Commission on the key objectives for the CITES CoP20 meeting in Uzbekistan (O-000035/2025 – B100000 and O-000036/2025 – B100000/2025),
– having regard to Rules 142(5) and 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas CITES is the largest global wildlife conservation agreement, with Turkmenistan having recently become the 185th Party to CITES;
B. whereas Appendix I of CITES lists species threatened with extinction that are or may be affected by trade; whereas Appendix II lists species that may become threatened with extinction unless trade in specimens of such species is subject to strict regulation to avoid utilisation incompatible with their survival and unless trade in these species is brought under effective control;
C. whereas the vast majority of species subject to trade are not protected by CITES; whereas international trade in such species remains unregulated and undocumented;
D. whereas it is important to protect terrestrial, freshwater, marine and coastal biodiversity and tackle the threats posed to it by the unregulated, poorly regulated and illegal use of living terrestrial, marine and other aquatic resources;
E. whereas, according to the IPBES global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services, it is necessary to halt and reverse current trends in biodiversity loss; whereas the report recognises that direct exploitation has been identified as one of the major drivers of the global biodiversity decline; whereas the loss of biodiversity compounds the effects of climate change, increasing vulnerability to extreme weather events and drought and making healthy food and clean water less readily available;
F. whereas the global IUCN Red List assessment for several shark species listed in Appendix II of CITES continues to show a marked decline in the global population in the wild of greater than 80 %, and indicates that species such as the oceanic whitetip shark are still declining, thereby exceeding the Appendix I listing criteria; whereas several endangered shark species remain heavily exploited, which highlights the need to improve enforcement and/or list such species in Appendix I;
G. whereas one third of sharks, rays and chimaeras are threatened with extinction, and one of the primary drivers of these declines is the international trade in their parts and related products; whereas increased restrictions are urgently needed as the potential for most sharks to recover from such declines is limited due to their slow development and reproduction;
H. whereas the critically endangered European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is currently the only eel listed in CITES Appendix II; whereas in a recent case, European glass eels were declared as African longfin eels to which controls on international trade do not apply; whereas the CITES ‘look-alike’ principle provides that taxa that look similar are listed within the same CITES Appendix if one or more of the taxa are threatened through international trade; whereas the inclusion of all the Anguilla species in Appendix II would be justified on conservation and enforcement grounds;
I. whereas the International Whaling Commission, at its 69th meeting in 2024, expressed serious concern about the escalating by-catch mortality linked to the growing international trade in swim bladders from fish such as totoaba; whereas vaquita face the threat of extinction and are now critically endangered due to entanglement in gill nets set to catch the totoaba, itself a critically endangered species; whereas the situation of totoaba and vaquita has already been described as ‘dual extinction’;
J. whereas source code R has been increasingly used for export permits for taxa included in CITES Appendix II without an assessment of the suitability of its application; whereas marine and aquatic species are among the taxa for which source code R may have been used inappropriately, among them some sturgeon species and European eels;
K. whereas in 2021 the IUCN raised the threat level of the African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana) from Vulnerable to Endangered and listed African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) separately as Critically Endangered, following population declines across Africa of more than 60 % for African savannah elephants and 86 % for African forest elephants within three generations ;
L. whereas CITES Decision 14.69 on captive-bred and ranched specimens opposes the commercial breeding and trade in tigers for their parts; whereas EU Member States continue to import and export live tigers and tiger parts registered under the CITES code of commercial trade;
M. whereas the peregrine falcon is a valuable species, in high demand for international trade with various media reports documenting illegal offtake, including in European countries, and illegal trade in this species;
N. whereas illegal wildlife trade is driven by a growing demand for products derived from wildlife and for domestic animals; whereas there is an urgent need to address the root causes of overexploitation by reducing the use of natural resources, as well as by changing consumption patterns and reducing global demand for wild species;
O. whereas the EU is a major hub, transit point and destination for legally and illegally sourced specimens of wild fauna and flora, with European glass eel trafficking being one of the most devastating crimes against wildlife worldwide and one of the most lucrative;
P. whereas wildlife trafficking is rising sharply and is the fourth largest organised crime in the world; whereas wildlife trafficking offences are often not prioritised by governments or enforcement authorities and perpetrators are rarely prosecuted; whereas wildlife crime has been seen to be building on existing criminal structures, money-laundering, corruption and drug trafficking; whereas case studies show that wildlife traffickers may move between different wildlife commodities and source countries depending on the level of enforcement and market pressure; whereas international cooperation is essential in combating wildlife crime;
Q. whereas the latest EU-SOCTA report on serious and organised crime highlights that wildlife crime remains a persistent threat, with trafficking activities sustained by continuous demand and supply in both EU and non-EU consumer markets, and traffickers increasingly resorting to trading non-CITES-listed species to avoid detection by law enforcement authorities;
R. whereas the revised Environmental Crime Directive provides a harmonised framework enabling detection, investigation and prosecution or adjudication of environmental offences and sets dissuasive level of penalties, including for legal persons;
S. whereas there are rising concerns in the EU and its Member States regarding trade in captive bred animals, including the legality of the founding stock and the laundering of wild-caught specimens;
T. whereas, in compliance with CITES Resolution Conf. 17.8 (and CoP20 Docs. 64.1–64.3), and with Objective 14 of the revised EU action plan against wildlife trafficking, the EU should foster structured cooperation and EU-level information-sharing among specialised rescue and rehabilitation centres, including sanctuaries, to ensure long-term, species-appropriate care and placement solutions for confiscated wild animals;
U. whereas the illegal supply and demand for wildlife have risen with the development of digital technology and social media; whereas the internet plays a key role in facilitating wildlife trafficking and unsustainable trade;
V. whereas species misidentification impacts the accurate estimation of viable harvest levels for wildlife resources, as well as the detection of illegal trade;
W. whereas between 2014 and 2023, the European Union was the second-largest importer of hunting trophies from species listed under the CITES appendices; whereas an increasing number of European countries have adopted or are considering national measures to restrict or ban the import of such trophies in response to ethical, conservation, and biodiversity concerns;
X. whereas sustainable hunting could generate financial benefits that support species conservation and habitat and biodiversity protection, provided that hunting activities are carried out under scienced-based national and international conservation frameworks and tightly controlled and verified population management plans, in order to ensure that there is no threat to species conservation, animal populations and habitat and biodiversity protection, and that revenues are allocated to local communities and conservation projects; whereas an assessments of the impact of hunting on animal populations must be based on robust scientific data evaluated by the Scientific Review Group; whereas an increase in contributions to conservation projects and sustainable community development is recommended;
Y. whereas recent research results suggest that despite new EU rules in force since 2022, trafficking in ivory continues in the EU; whereas the Commission must monitor the implementation of the new rules by the Member States, transform these rules into fully legally binding legislation and close any remaining loopholes;
Z. whereas poaching for the ivory trade is the main driver of population declines in African elephants; whereas illegal ivory trade harms economic development, fosters organised crime, promotes corruption and fuels conflicts;
AA. whereas CITES plays a significant role in reducing the risk of future zoonotic disease emergence associated with international wildlife trade and markets, which poses serious risks to the health of both animals and humans, in line with the ‘One Health’ approach;
AB. whereas the trade in and use of wildlife, if not strictly regulated, present a threat to biodiversity, contribute to the destruction of natural habitats and the exploitation of wildlife and undermine global efforts to combat climate change;
AC. whereas it is estimated that more than 70 % of emerging infectious diseases originate from wildlife; whereas keeping wild animals as pets increases the risk of zoonotic spillover due to their close proximity to human owners; whereas expert advice on limiting zoonotic risks by addressing wildlife markets and by developing ‘positive’ or ‘permitted lists’ of animal species that may be traded, bred and kept as pets is needed, and should take into account other considerations, such as animal welfare, conservation status and population trends;
AD. whereas increased efforts are needed to improve transparency and the effective participation of economic and social stakeholders in decision-making;
Introduction
1. Recalls that that the Parties to CITES recognise that wild fauna and flora in their many beautiful and varied forms are an irreplaceable part of the natural systems of the earth and must be protected for this generation and those to come;
2. Recognises, following the 50th anniversary of CITES, the continued importance of the convention in ensuring that international trade in specimens of wild fauna and flora is regulated so that it does not threaten the survival of species; notes, while acknowledging the progress made in this regard, the need to adapt the convention to new and evolving challenges;
3. Notes that there are new and evolving challenges, including increased demand for wildlife products, cybercrime, biodiversity loss, climate change and the need for greater traceability and enforcement; calls on the Parties to CITES to address these challenges, with enhanced cooperation, stronger enforcement, and more effective mechanisms for ensuring sustainable trade;
4. Underlines the need for a precautionary, science-based approach when implementing CITES to ensure the effective protection of wildlife against the increasing threat posed by international trade to individual animals, species and biodiversity and to the health of humans and animals;
5. Stresses the need for increased synergies between CITES and other relevant treaties and agreements, including, inter alia, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals and the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), ensuring that conservation objectives are met efficiently and effectively;
Implementation, compliance and enforcement
6. Calls on all Parties to CITES to step up their implementation and enforcement of the convention, making full use of the available legal framework;
7. Calls on all the Parties to consistently, transparently and impartially apply the instruments provided for in CITES and the decisions taken under it to promote compliance with the convention, including the Compliance Assistance Programme;
8. Deplores the use of negative economic impact as a reason to lift trade suspension and insists that an affirmative response to such calls would threaten and undermine the whole process, as economic pressure is the intended outcome of trade suspensions;
9. Calls on all Parties to ensure that compliance processes under CITES are applied equally to transit, consumer and range states, to promote consistent enforcement and to ensure that all Parties fulfil their obligations under the convention;
10. Calls for the traceability of the harvest and trade of CITES-listed species to be strengthened by enhancing monitoring mechanisms and ensuring transparency throughout the supply chain and stronger collaboration between source, transit and destination countries;
11. Regrets that current definitions and guidance are insufficient as a growing number of CITES-listed species need traceability systems; calls on all Parties to adopt a resolution establishing clearer and more consistent traceability standards for CITES-listed species and specific taxonomic groups included in the appendices, such as sharks and rays;
12. Recognises the essential contribution of whistle-blowers, journalists, wildlife and forest rangers and environmental rights defenders in supporting CITES implementation; calls on all Parties to increase efforts to ensure their protection and provide them with institutional and legal support;
13. Recalls the constructive and determining role played by civil society in the creation, evolution and implementation of CITES and highlights the importance of ensuring continuous participation of civil society in CITES processes;
14. Underlines the key law enforcement role played by police, customs and the judiciary with regard to the international wildlife trade, which is often associated with other crimes; encourages cooperation between the EU Member States and through other international bodies, including Europol, Eurojust, Interpol, the World Customs Organization and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, as well as other relevant bodies; calls for law enforcement authorities to be provided with adequate financial resources to enable them to fully carry out their duties;
15. Regrets that the tools offered by legal frameworks on the protection of wildlife by means of criminal law are underexploited; calls on all parties to identify and close the gaps in their legal frameworks on the protection of wildlife by means of criminal law; encourages the recognition of liability of legal persons in wildlife crime;
16. Underlines the importance of the first meeting of the open-ended intergovernmental expert group on crimes that affect the environment, convened under UNTOC Resolution 12/4, to take stock of experiences and consider possible responses to the gaps identified, including the possibility, feasibility and merits of any additional protocol to UNTOC; highlights, in this context, the need to continue supporting the development of a new UNTOC protocol on wildlife trafficking, as set out in the EU strategy to tackle organised crime 2021-2025, and as also expressed in the revision of the EU action plan against wildlife trafficking;
17. Emphasises the need for the increased engagement of financial intelligence units, anti-corruption agencies and financial institutions in supporting the implementation of CITES;
18. Calls on all Parties to address the role of corruption in facilitating crime involving fauna and flora, including by establishing a collaborative relationship mechanism between CITES authorities and anti-corruption bodies to facilitate swift and effective action where corrupt activities are detected in connection with illegal wildlife trade; strongly supports the amendments to paragraph 4 of Resolution Conf. 17.6 (Rev. CoP19) submitted to CoP20 encouraging the Parties to ensure that such mechanisms are in place;
19. Encourages all Parties to explore, where applicable, options to prosecute those organising or enabling wildlife trafficking under laws directly addressing corruption, as these may provide stronger investigative powers and the potential for higher penalties than applicable under environmental legislation;
20. Remarks that illicit financial flows linked to illegal wildlife trade undermine the implementation of CITES and its conservation goals; highlights the importance of asset recovery for removing financial incentives for illegal wildlife trade; calls on the Parties to put in place measures to enable the tracing, identification, freezing and confiscation of instrumentalities and proceeds from wildlife crime, including through strengthened implementation of Resolution Conf. 11.3 (Rev. CoP19) on compliance and enforcement;
21. Calls on the Parties to fully comply with Resolution Conf. 11.3 (Rev. CoP19) on compliance and enforcement and Resolution Conf. 17.6 (Rev. CoP19) on prohibiting, preventing, detecting and countering corruption; supports the proposed amendment to the Resolution Conf. 11.3 (Rev. CoP19) to integrate financial crime investigations into the investigation of crimes involving wildlife, and to increase the use of financial investigation techniques to identify criminals involved in wildlife crime and their networks and address the illicit financial flows associated with these crimes;
22. Highlights that the sharing of relevant data between the appropriate authorities and bodies, for example, on the issuance and verification of documents such as import applications, supports CITES implementation and enforcement by building expertise, improving transparency and traceability, allowing for real-time monitoring, accelerating the administrative processes and avoiding duplication of effort, for example, through better data sharing among EU Member States, including on rejected import applications;
23. Calls for increased and more systematic digitalisation that will promote and facilitate data sharing, improve traceability of CITES-listed species, support enforcement, and foster a predictable and efficient business environment, while minimising unnecessary burdens on legal trade;
24. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to support action at the EU and CITES level to ensure that restrictions for specimens of species for which commercial trade is prohibited, are not circumvented by selling these species for allegedly non-commercial purposes, such as in case of sale of Namibia’s white rhino specimens to the United States;
25. Calls for the integration of emerging technologies, such as AI-based tracking systems and drone surveillance, to enhance detection and enforcement efforts;
Decision-making, transparency and reporting
26. Welcomes the annual illegal trade reports as a significant step towards developing a better understanding of wildlife trafficking;
27. Welcomes the amendments to Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 and the revised guidance document on the EU regime governing trade in ivory and urges the Commission to strictly monitor their implementation by the Member States;
28. Stresses that decisions adopted by the Parties to and governing bodies of CITES should be based on scientific criteria aimed at the conservation of species, guided by the best available, robust scientific information and the precautionary principle, as well as on equitable consultation with the affected range states;
29. Encourages all Parties to develop scientific tools to provide robust scientific data to inform decisions regarding species protection and trade regulations under CITES, including monitoring systems, population modelling and species-specific research;
30. Calls on the CITES committees to fully consider the legitimacy, accuracy and relevance of data and evidence when making decisions regarding species protection and trade regulations and, in particular, when deliberating on the legitimacy of legal acquisition findings, non-detriment findings, quotas and catch limits provided by Parties, and to impose trade suspensions when there are substantiated concerns;
31. Notes the requests to downlist species from Appendix I to Appendix II owing to successful conservation and anti-poaching measures of range states, such as in the case of Namibia’s white rhino; stresses that any downlisting of species should be science-based, benefit the local population and ecosystems and lead to an increase in the species’ range within its historical range, and should not be used to circumvent CITES export restrictions;
32. Calls on the Parties to develop clear guidelines on the application of ‘ranching’ for aquatic species, noting that the implementation of CITES for aquatic species poses specific challenges and that misuse of this term may undermine the convention’s objectives; supports the amended draft resolution on trade, conservation and management of eel species, which states that source code R may not be appropriate for use for the genus;
33. Recognises the dependence of some communities on CITES-listed species to support their livelihoods, including through income from sustainable, legal wildlife trade; recalls the importance of the meaningful involvement of Indigenous peoples and local communities in CITES decision-making processes, including in the listing of species, and in the implementation of the convention; acknowledges that local communities and states are, and should be, essential protectors of their own wild fauna and flora;
34. Expresses concern over the lack of transparency and oversight of operations of the CITES Secretariat; calls on the Parties to consider mechanisms to enhance transparency and increase oversight of how the work plan priorities are established; calls for regular reporting by the Secretariat on all outstanding commitments under existing decisions, for budgetary and staffing needs to be considered in any proposals for new tasks, and for the relevant committee to adopt terms of reference before hiring external consultants;
35. Underlines the importance of interinstitutional transparency in the EU’s position for CITES meetings; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that all Council decisions relating to the EU position for CITES meetings are publicly available to all EU institutions ahead of these meetings; underlines the importance of transparency in the development of the EU’s positions for CITES meetings to facilitate stakeholders engagement and contributions before and during the CoPs;
Funding and other resources
36. Calls on the Commission and all Parties to guarantee sufficient financial, human, technical and technological resources for the proper implementation and enforcement of the Convention, while optimising the use of current resources and mechanisms;
37. Expresses concern about the increasing workload of the CITES Secretariat, the Conference of the Parties and the committees in relation to their available resources;
38. Regrets that an increasing number of decisions mandated by the CITES Parties remain partially or wholly unfulfilled due to both insufficient resources and the failure to appropriately prioritise the allocation of the resources available for their implementation; calls on the Secretariat and the Parties to prioritise issues relating to the core mandate of CITES and to redirect resources to these issues;
39. Calls for the next EU multiannual financial framework to allocate dedicated funding to combating illegal wildlife trade and supporting the sustainable use of natural resources; underlines the importance of integrating environmental crime, including wildlife crime, into future EU budgetary priorities, through a comprehensive approach that combines security, prevention, enforcement and international cooperation aspects;
CITES strategic vision: 2021-2030
40 Supports the vision statement that by 2030, ‘all international trade in wild fauna and flora is legal and sustainable, consistent with the long-term conservation of species, and thereby contributing to halting biodiversity loss, to ensuring its sustainable use, and to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’;
41. Welcomes the recognition of the interlinkages between CITES, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, the SDGs and the Convention on Biological Diversity; also points out the need to promote synergies with the UNTOC review mechanism;
42. Recalls the important contribution that CITES can make to implementing the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal GBF, in particular when the decisions taken under CITES should correctly reflect the conservation status and needs of species; believes that the review of the CITES strategic vision: 2021-2030 should be addressed at CoP20, in order to align it with the Kunming-Montreal GBF goals and targets and its monitoring framework;
43. Supports the emphasis placed by the Strategic Vision on cooperation and on ensuring that Parties have the necessary financial means and capacities to implement the Convention; notes that the focus should align with and contribute to Goal D and Targets 20 and 21 of the Kunming-Montreal GBF on adequate financial resources, strengthened capacity-building, technical and scientific cooperation, as well as the best available data, information and knowledge;
One Health approach and role of CITES in reducing the risk of zoonotic disease emergence
44. Emphasises the crucial role of CITES in reducing the risks of pathogen spillover and the emergence of zoonotic diseases that are associated with international wildlife trade and that pose both ecological and public health risks; stresses the importance of a precautionary approach, in line with the One Health approach, that recognises the interconnectedness of animal, human and environmental health when assessing and strengthening the prevention of these risks;
45. Calls for the EU and all Parties to urgently adopt a resolution encouraging the application of a One Health approach to international wildlife trade under CITES; urges all Parties to apply the operational definition of One Health, as developed by the High-Level Expert Panel, in their national laws and in implementing the Convention;
46. Calls for CITES collaboration with national and international animal and public health authorities to develop strategies and action plans for safe, legal and traceable trade, disease risk identification, and secure transport of biological samples; welcomes the joint programme with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) addressing knowledge gaps and identifying practical solutions for reducing pathogen spillover risks in wildlife supply chains;
47. Recalls the World Health Organization, OIE and UN Environment Programme guidance calling on national authorities to suspend trade in live wild mammals for food or breeding purposes at traditional markets unless effective regulations and adequate risk assessments are in place; recalls the IPBES recommendations to remove species identified as posing a high risk of disease emergence from wildlife trade;
48. Notes with concern that significant quantities of domestic and wild animal meat continue to be smuggled into the EU, posing risks to animal and human health as well as to biodiversity; calls on the Commission and the Member States develop a coordinated EU response to this issue, including by establishing data collection systems on meat from domestic and wild animals;
49. Urges the EU and all other Parties to secure the welfare of live animals in breeding facilities and along the trade chain, recognising the scientific evidence indicating that inadequate welfare conditions in the holding, transport and trade of wildlife are linked to the emergence and transmission of diseases, and threaten both animal and human health;
50. Recognises the intensified interactions between humans, livestock and wildlife, driven in particular by land-use change, habitat loss and ecosystem fragmentation; emphasises that the challenges arising from these interactions can lead to conflict and increased transmission of zoonotic and livestock diseases, while negatively impacting biodiversity and animal welfare; calls on the Commission and the Member States to address these risks through integrated coexistence strategies, including habitat preservation, science-based wildlife conservation measures, preventive measures and awareness-raising, and to ensure that CITES implementation takes into account coexistence dynamics as part of broader conservation and public health efforts;
Strengthening the EU’s role in the global fight against wildlife trafficking
51. Reiterates its call on the Commission and the Member States to lead global efforts to end the commercial trade in endangered species and their parts;
52. Emphasises that concerns related to illegal wildlife trade should be systematically included in EU trade policy, including through bilateral agreements;
53. Expresses concern that ivory continues to be trafficked within the EU, despite amendments to Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 and the revised guidance document on the EU regime governing trade in ivory; calls on the Commission and the Member States to replace this guidance document with legally binding legislation on this matter;
54. Emphasises that the absence of a common EU framework for welfare provisions on the breeding, keeping and placing on the market of pet animal species other than dogs and cats, along with divergent national rules, leads to inconsistencies, gaps in enforcement, confusion for consumers and, often, serious animal welfare consequences for species that are unsuitable to be kept as pets, as well as risks to biodiversity, human health and safety, and nature conservation; calls on the Commission to swiftly propose an EU-wide positive list of animals allowed to be kept or traded as pets, based on recommendations from the study on the necessity, added value and feasibility of such a list, while taking into account scientific risk assessments and ecological criteria;
55. Urges the Commission, in view of the future implementation of an EU-wide positive list of pets, to provide technical assistance and expertise to support non-EU countries in developing science-based positive lists for pet ownership, including guidance on species risk assessments, enforcement mechanisms and legislative frameworks;
56. Welcomes Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/130 of 28 January 2025 amending Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 to implement the requirements of CITES Resolution Conf. 12.10 (Rev. CoP15) regarding the registration of operations that breed specimens of animal species listed in Appendix I to the Convention in captivity for commercial purposes; urges the Commission to strictly monitor implementation and enforcement by Member States and calls for a timely transmission of registration of operations to the CITES Secretariat;
57. Urges the Commission and the Member States, in line with the EU action plan against wildlife trafficking, to apply increased scrutiny to the import of hunting trophies derived from CITES-listed species; calls for extending the requirements for import permits across hunting trophies listed in Annex B to Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97, unless scientifically proven otherwise;
58. Highlights the critical importance of establishing a detailed EU information system to tackle the issue of illicit wildlife trade; urges the Commission to expand existing regulations and tools, including TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System), in order to record and make publicly available data on the species, volume and origin of all imports to the EU of both CITES-listed and non-CITES-listed species to allow for better monitoring of trade, to identify trends and risks, and to inform future policies and decision-making;
59. Stresses that CITES CoP 20 could serve as an opportunity to identify the main countries and regions exporting wild animals, with a view to introducing tighter controls and encouraging them to adopt strict preventive measures against illegal export;
60. Welcomes the EU’s contribution to supporting efforts to combat wildlife trafficking globally; calls for the EU and its Member States to support the inclusion of a new paragraph in the 2025 UN General Assembly Resolution A/79/L.96 on tackling illicit trafficking in wildlife through the criminalisation of imports of any wildlife or wildlife produce acquired in contravention of national laws and to assist partner countries that are sources of wildlife and wildlife products, transit points and/or destinations for sellers and buyers;
EU action plan against wildlife trafficking
61. Acknowledges the progress made by the Member States, the Commission and other stakeholders; highlights the importance of the continued implementation of the action plan and the need to allocate adequate human and financial resources for its implementation; calls on the Member States to collect and provide data to measure and evaluate their progress;
62. Calls for the Member States to enhance the capacities of the competent national authorities, including prosecution and judiciary, to swiftly and effectively investigate and prosecute cases of wildlife trafficking, and to facilitate cooperation between relevant national authorities;
63. Stresses the importance of key EU agencies, Europol, Eurojust and the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) in tackling illegal wildlife trafficking; calls for adequate support in the next multiannual financial framework and the annual budgetary procedure to ensure appropriate resources and staff for these entities;
64. Recommends that the EU and its Member States criminalise the trade and keeping of illegally sourced wildlife, regardless of their listing status in the CITES Appendices; urges the Commission to use the results of the feasibility study on criminalisation of illegally sourced wildlife trade to present, as a matter of priority, relevant legislative proposals;
65. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to address the growing demand for live wildlife, as well as wildlife products, by implementing and supporting evidence-based demand reduction initiatives in EU Member States;
66. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to extend actions beyond the current scope of Objective 14 of the EU action plan against wildlife trafficking, to increase the capacity for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation for wildlife rescued from trafficking, through resources, funding and training, alongside national action plans to improve the management of confiscated live animals;
Organised crime, cybersecurity and confiscated animals
67. Insists that transnational wildlife crime be recognised by all Parties as a form of serious, organised and predicate crime, which in its gravest form should be recognised as ecocide; calls on all EU Member States to align their national legislation with the UNTOC definition of serious crime by ensuring that wildlife offences are treated as predicate offences appropriately punishable under their criminal codes;
68. Encourages the Member States to put in place dissuasive criminal measures against illegal activities of purchasing, trafficking and selling wild animals;
69. Acknowledges ongoing efforts to assess the need for the development of a protocol on environmental crime under the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime; stresses the importance of continued dialogue on this matter, with an emphasis on wildlife crime; recalls the need for the protocol to include a provision requiring Parties to criminalise the import and trade of wildlife taken illegally from their countries of origin;
70. Urges the Member States to establish cross-border cooperation, intelligence sharing and coordination with various relevant international authorities and institutions in order to combat the involvement of organised criminal groups in the illegal trade of wildlife species; highlights the necessity of investing in monitoring and analysing new developments in illegal wildlife markets and associated criminality;
71. Calls on the Commission to ensure coordination in the implementation of the Environmental Crime Directive, the Wildlife Trade Regulation and the revised EU action plan against wildlife trafficking and other relevant EU policies such as the Digital Services Act; calls on the Member States to transpose the Environmental Crime Directive and to bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the directive by 21 May 2026;
72. Calls on the Member States to ensure and promote the consistent and transparent reporting of all seized or confiscated live animals to CITES, Europol and the countries of origin; calls on the Member States to enable seized and confiscated proceeds from offenders to be used to strengthen wildlife rescue and sanctuary capacities;
73. Expresses its concern over unresolved issues in the implementation of CITES Resolution Conf. 17.8 (Rev. CoP19) on the disposal of confiscated CITES-listed specimens; highlights the need for improved guidance on immediate handling, enforcer decision-making and appropriate placement options to prevent the re-entry of specimens into trade;
74. Expresses its concern about the surge in wildlife cybercrime; calls on the Commission and the Member States to step up efforts to combat it, including through the robust implementation and full enforcement of the Digital Services Act as well as strengthened international cooperation in order to identify and implement best practices and develop measures to tackle illegal online trade; urges the Commission to develop specific EU guidelines to address wildlife cybercrime in line with the provisions of the Digital Services Act, ensuring coordinated policies across Member States and fostering collaboration among all relevant stakeholders;
Amendments to the CITES Appendices
75. Expresses its strong support for the listing proposals submitted by the EU and its Member States to amend the Appendices to CITES;
76. Calls on the Member States to promote the upgrading of threatened genera and species from Appendix II to Appendix I of CITES following scientific assessment, in particular sharks (Selachii), seahorses (Hippocampus), tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus), and mico marmoset (Mico); urges the EU and its Member States to support proposals to list additional relevant shark species in Appendix II of CITES, in particular biologically vulnerable deep sea sharks such as the gulper shark;
77. Takes note of the notifications to the Parties to consult range states on a proposal to transfer the following species from Appendix II to Appendix I: Mobula spp. (manta and devil rays), Rhincodon typus (whale shark) and Carcharhinus longimanus (Oceanic whitetip shark) and calls on the Commission and the EU Member States to support these transfers;
78. Calls on the Member States to promote the full inclusion of threatened species, irrespective of their geographical distribution, in CITES Appendix I following scientific assessment, in particular elephants (Elephantidae), lions (Panthera leo) and rhinos (Rhinocerotidae);
79. Calls on the Member States to promote the inclusion of threatened species in the CITES Appendices following scientific assessment, in particular but not exclusively, the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus), the house sparrow (Passer domesticus), the northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) and the Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis);
80. Calls for the EU and all Parties to improve the regulation of international trade in amphibian species and to include in the CITES Appendices three Pelophylax species (Pelophylax epeiroticus, P. shqipericus and P. ridibundus);
81. Calls on the Member States to promote the inclusion, or upgrading, in the CITES Appendices of threatened genera and species of corals as well as species linked to rainforest deforestation or processing into tropical timber, following scientific assessment, in particular teak (Tectona grandis), ebony (Diospyros) and mahogany;
82. Urges the EU to assess the suitability of any proposal to downlist the peregrine falcon from Appendix I to Appendix II, in line with the criteria defined in Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), and to oppose such a proposal if these criteria are not met;
83. Calls for the EU and its Member States to support the inclusion, or uplisting, of species that are threatened by the exotic pet trade and to support listing proposals of threatened endemic species, as well as the prohibition of the export of live specimens if the capture or export of these species is prohibited by the national laws of the respective Party;
84. Regrets the increasing demand for swim bladders of Sciaenidae species; calls for actions to ensure that international trade does not jeopardise species survival or exacerbate risks to protected species caught incidentally; calls on the Parties to propose species of concern for inclusion in the Appendices where CITES criteria are met, and to ensure legal, traceable and biologically sustainable trade;
Species-specific matters
Aquatic species
85. Calls on the Member States, as well as all transit countries and countries raising and fattening eels in aquaculture, to strengthen cooperation and measures aimed at effectively combating illegal trade in eels and at dismantling criminal networks, and to dedicate sufficient resources to this end; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that a resolution on trade in specimens of Anguilla spp. is adopted at CoP20 as well as a listing of all remaining species of the genus in Appendix II alongside the European eel;
86. Stresses the vital role that sharks and rays play in maintaining the health of ocean ecosystems; warns that serious trade-related threats continue to put sharks and rays at risk of extinction, in particular deepwater sharks; calls for the EU and its Member States to support and co-sponsor CITES proposals and resolutions aimed at providing stronger protection for shark and ray species from unsustainable and illegal trade, as well as habitat degradation and pollution;
87. Encourages Parties to share non-detriment findings developed for shark and ray species; calls on Parties to take immediate action to address discrepancies in data on trade in products of CITES-listed sharks recorded in the CITES Trade Database and to improve compliance;
88. Highlights the persistent difficulties in identifying and documenting trade in live corals and coral rock; calls on Parties to support further work on species identification and traceability in coral trade; asks for a potential review of relevant provisions under Resolution Conf. 12.3 (Rev. CoP19) to address identification gaps;
89. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that a resolution on improving the conservation status of, and regulation of international trade in, croaker (Sciaenidae) species is adopted at CoP20;
90. Calls for the EU, one of the largest importers of marine ornamental fishes in terms of value, and all Parties to support measures to improve the conservation status of, and regulation of international trade in, marine ornamental fishes;
Big cats
91. Recognises that some big cat species are among the most endangered CITES-listed species, and that the conservation of, and regulation of trade in, CITES-listed big cat species faces multiple challenges; calls for adequate financial resources commensurate with these challenges; calls for the implementation of time-bound, country-specific conservation recommendations and for concrete financial conservation commitments for big cats;
92. Notes that Resolution Conf. 12.5 (Rev. CoP19) mandates Parties to provide information on Asian big cats to the CITES Secretariat; regrets the persistent lack of response from range states; calls for the EU and all Parties to adopt strong decisions related to Asian big cats in captivity at CoP20;
93. Is strongly concerned about the trade in live tigers and their body parts; deeply regrets the fact that EU wildlife trade regulations fail to prevent the trade in captive-bred tigers and their body parts;
94. Regrets the proposal to delete Decision 18.105 on Asian leopards despite ongoing illegal trade concerns; calls on the CITES Secretariat to undertake a detailed review of illegal trade in, and the conservation status of, Asian leopards and to present updated findings at CoP20; calls for a review of Resolution Conf. 10.14 (Rev. CoP19) to prevent overexploitation of the species;
Elephants
95. Calls for support for the proposed nomenclature change to list African elephants under the genus Loxodonta spp. and for the development of a simple and unified legal framework on trade in live wild-caught African elephants, limiting exports to in-situ conservation programmes or secure areas in the wild within the species’ natural and historical range in Africa;
96. Is concerned by the growing illegal trade in Asian elephant parts and derivatives, particularly online; highlights the importance of maintaining and renewing Decision 18.226 (Rev. CoP19) at CoP20; encourages increased collaboration between stakeholders and range states, urging them to engage more proactively in the discussions and work towards strengthening the accompanying Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP19);
97. Is concerned by the limited progress in implementing Decisions 19.68 to 19.70 on the review of the national ivory action plan (NIAP) process; highlights the need for an independent review of the NIAP process and for the provision of capacity support to countries that have been identified as sources of significant concern in the global ivory trade;
98. Calls for the EU to ensure that the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS) remains a robust mechanism and information source on trends in illegal ivory trade; welcomes the new tool launched on the ETIS online platform to make ETIS seizure data publicly available at country level;
99. Calls for the EU and all Parties to take all necessary legislative, regulatory and enforcement measures to close their domestic markets for commercial trade in raw and worked ivory as a matter of urgency;
100. Urges the closure of remaining legal domestic ivory markets, as a matter of urgency, and calls for the EU and all Parties to oppose any proposals seeking to remove restrictions on trade in ivory;
101. Calls for the EU and all Parties to support the non-commercial disposal of ivory stockpiles as well as the non-commercial disposal of other stockpiles from CITES-listed species, including pangolins and rhino horns; calls for the EU and all Parties to support the renewal of Decisions 18.184 and 18.185 on ivory stockpiles;
Other species
102. Expresses concern over the reasons behind the delay in convening the meeting of the CITES Rhinoceros Enforcement Task Force; stresses the importance of adhering to the demand-reduction provisions in CITES Resolution Conf. 9.14 (Rev. CoP19) on the conservation of, and trade in, African and Asian rhinoceroses; strongly urges Parties to uphold their commitment to closing rhino horn markets and to strengthen intelligence sharing and joint operations to address rhino horn trafficking, including by boosting international cooperation, conducting joint operations and tracking financial flows;
103. Regrets China’s lack of transparency regarding its pangolin stockpiles; calls on the Parties to continue submitting annual reports on pangolin stockpiles, as outlined in CITES Resolution Conf. 17.10 (Rev. CoP19) on the conservation of, and trade in, pangolins; encourages the development of time-bound and measurable recommendations aimed at closing legal domestic markets that contribute to illegal trade and poaching;
104. Expresses strong concern over the continued decline in the vaquita and totoaba populations; calls on Mexico to immediately and fully implement its compliance action plan on totoaba fish; calls on the CITES Secretariat to suspend trade with the range state for failing to fully implement its compliance action plan on totoaba fish; calls for the EU and its Member States, as well as all countries of transit and destination, to strengthen measures aimed at effectively combating illegal and unsustainable trade in totoaba and to dedicate sufficient resources to this end;
105. Calls for the EU and its Member States to close loopholes in EU legislation that facilitate illegal trade in wild birds, to improve enforcement of existing legislation banning wild-caught bird imports and to support measures aimed at increasing the regulation of international trade in birds;
106. Calls for the EU and all Parties to support measures to improve the conservation status of, and regulation of international trade in, invertebrates;
107. Notes the ongoing work on the conservation of, and regulation of trade in, amphibians in accordance with Decisions 19.197 to 19.199 on the conservation of amphibians (Amphibia spp.); calls on Parties to continue addressing the impact of international trade in frogs on wild populations, and to support further work on amphibian conservation and trade regulation at CoP20;
108. Calls on the Member States to advocate for stronger protection of the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) and to tackle the threats posed to it by exploitation for trade in trophies and hides;
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109. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Parties to and the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.