During the plenary session (11-14 June 2018) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debated on combatting poaching through the closure of the EU ivory market. Statements by Tibor NAVRACSICS, Member of the EC in charge of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN (EPP, FI), Jacqueline FOSTER (ECR, UK), Catherine BEARDER (ALDE, UK) and Cécile Kashetu KYENGE (S&D, IT).

Closure of the EU ivory market to combat poaching: extracts from the debate (recorded 13/06)

SOUNDBITE (English), Tibor NAVRACSICS, Member of the EC in charge of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, A number of measures have been taken since we learned about the latest rise in elephant poaching in several African countries. We've seen some encouraging signs since then, but  many elephant populations are still at risk.

SOUNDBITE (English), Tibor NAVRACSICS, Member of the EC in charge of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Some EU Member States are unfortunately used as transit hubs by the traffickers. Of all the ivory that is being seized by national customs authorities, by far the biggest share concerns trans-shipments from Africa to Asia. Under the EU Action Plan against Wildlife trafficking, we have have worked with Member States since 2016 towards the tightening of controls, and increasing of relevant capacities. We are alos working with third countries at both ends of the trade flow to help them fight poaching on the ground in Africa, and reduce demand for Ivory in Asia.

SOUNDBITE (English), Tibor NAVRACSICS, Member of the EC in charge of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, The rules were tightened further in May 2017 with the adoption of a Commission specific guidance document. Since then, teh export of old, raw ivory from the EU is no longer possible. The EU Member States have unanimously supported this tightening of the rules, and are following the guidance very closely, thereby ensuring uniform application of the rules. With this measure, the risk that ivory exported from Europe could fuel the demandin destination markets ans indirectly also the poaching in Africa, has been significantly reduced.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sirpa PIETIK&#196;INEN (EPP, FI), We have less than 440,000 elephants today. And poachers kill 55 elephants per day. We need to close the domestic markets. And EU is still the largest domestic market of ivory in the world.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jacqueline FOSTER (ECR, UK), Nations acting alone cannot succeed in closing the market. Only global action can stamp out the trade in ivory and turn back the tide towards elephant extinction, and not forgetting the rhinoceros.

SOUNDBITE (English), Catherine BEARDER (ALDE, UK), The Commission and the member states must send this clear message to the rangers that protect and the customers who buy - ivory has no monetary value any longer. Ivory in Europe is not for sale.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), C&#233;cile Kashetu KYENGE (S&amp;D, IT), We recognise that the EU Action Plan against Wildlife trafficking which came into force last year, is a first step towards limiting the scourge of ivory trafficking. However, the more restrictive measures adopted by the US, China and Hong Kong are a lot more effective. The EU has to do better.

Closure of the EU ivory market to combat poaching: extracts from the debate (recorded 13/06)

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