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
B-10-2025-0450
on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Antonio Decaro, Manuela Ripa, César Luena, Pietro Fiocchi, Michal Wiezik, Maria Ohisalo, Martin Günther
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- Full procedure 2025/2618
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This resolution sets out Parliament's strategic objectives for the EU at the 20th CITES Conference of the Parties in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 24 November to 5 December 2025.¶ It calls for stronger implementation and enforcement of CITES, including measures against wildlife crime, corruption and cybercrime, and for science-based decisions on species listings.¶¶¶ It urges support for listing or uplisting species such as sharks, eels, elephants, big cats and rhinos, and for closing domestic ivory markets.¶¶¶ It also calls for a One Health approach, an EU-wide positive list of pets, and legally binding EU rules on ivory trade.¶¶¶
Key points
- Calls on all CITES Parties to step up implementation and enforcement, applying compliance instruments consistently and transparently.¶¶
- Calls for stronger traceability of CITES-listed species, including clearer standards for sharks and rays.¶¶
- Calls for protection of whistle-blowers, journalists, rangers and environmental rights defenders, and for continued civil society participation.¶¶
- Calls for adequate resources for law enforcement and for closing gaps in criminal law frameworks on wildlife crime.¶¶
- Calls for measures to address corruption and illicit financial flows linked to wildlife crime, including asset recovery.¶¶
- Calls for digitalisation and data sharing to improve traceability and enforcement, and for integration of emerging technologies.¶¶¶
- Calls for science-based decisions, with robust data and precautionary principle, and for clear guidelines on 'ranching' for aquatic species.¶¶¶
- Calls for transparency and oversight of the CITES Secretariat and for public availability of EU positions for CITES meetings.¶¶
- Calls for dedicated EU funding for combating illegal wildlife trade in the next multiannual financial framework.¶
- Calls for adoption of a resolution on a One Health approach to international wildlife trade and for collaboration with health authorities.¶¶
- Calls for an EU-wide positive list of animals allowed as pets and for legally binding EU rules on ivory trade.¶¶
- Calls for support for listing or uplisting species including sharks, eels, elephants, big cats, rhinos, and for closing domestic ivory markets.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- CITES Parties, including EU Member States, are called on to strengthen enforcement and compliance.¶¶
- Law enforcement authorities, including police, customs and judiciary, are to receive adequate resources.¶
- The Commission and Member States are urged to implement EU rules and propose legislation on wildlife trade.¶¶¶
- Range states of species like elephants, rhinos and totoaba are targeted for compliance actions.¶¶