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Key objectives for the CITES COP20 meeting in Uzbekistan

TA-10-2025-0255 · P10_TA(2025)0255 · PE772.028

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This resolution sets out the European Parliament's strategic objectives for the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 24 November to 5 December 2025. It calls for stronger implementation, enforcement, and compliance, and for science-based decisions. It demands action on specific species, including sharks, eels, elephants, and big cats, and urges the EU to lead global efforts against wildlife trafficking, including closing domestic ivory markets and adopting a positive list of pets.

Key points

  1. Calls on all CITES Parties to step up implementation and enforcement, apply compliance instruments consistently, and ensure compliance processes apply equally to transit, consumer, and range states.
  2. Calls for strengthened traceability of CITES-listed species, including adopting a resolution on traceability standards, and for increased digitalisation and data sharing.
  3. Calls for protection of whistle-blowers, journalists, rangers, and environmental defenders, and for continued civil society participation in CITES.
  4. Calls for law enforcement cooperation and adequate resources, and for closing gaps in criminal law frameworks, including recognising liability of legal persons.
  5. Calls for addressing corruption in wildlife crime, including financial investigations and asset recovery, and for prosecuting wildlife trafficking under corruption laws where applicable.
  6. Calls for decisions based on scientific criteria and the precautionary principle, and for developing scientific tools and guidelines, including on 'ranching' for aquatic species.
  7. Calls for transparency in CITES Secretariat operations and in the EU's position for CITES meetings, and for adequate funding for CITES implementation.
  8. Calls for adopting a One Health approach to wildlife trade, including a resolution, and for addressing zoonotic disease risks and wildlife welfare.
  9. Calls for the EU to lead global efforts to end commercial trade in endangered species, to include wildlife trade concerns in trade policy, and to replace the ivory guidance with legally binding legislation.
  10. Calls for an EU-wide positive list of animals allowed as pets, and for technical assistance to non-EU countries for similar lists.
  11. Calls for increased scrutiny of hunting trophy imports and for extending import permit requirements to Annex B species.
  12. Calls for criminalising trade in illegally sourced wildlife regardless of CITES listing, and for using the feasibility study to present legislative proposals.

Who is affected

  • CITES Parties, including EU Member States, are called on to implement and enforce the convention more strongly.
  • EU institutions, including the Commission and Member States, are called on to take specific actions on wildlife trade and trafficking.
  • Range states of species like elephants, rhinos, and totoaba are targeted for compliance and conservation actions.
  • Wildlife traders, breeders, and pet owners are affected by calls for stricter regulation and positive lists.

Figures and deadlines

  • 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, 24 November to 5 December 2025
  • 185th Party to CITES
  • more than 60 % decline for African savannah elephants and 86 % for African forest elephants
  • greater than 80 % decline for several shark species
  • more than 70 % of emerging infectious diseases originate from wildlife
  • by 21 May 2026 for transposing the Environmental Crime Directive