The European Union (EU) ranks at the top of the list of global importers of wild animal and plant products. The estimated declared import value of the legal trade in wildlife products is worth billions of euros a year, and the extent of the EU market for wildlife products increases annually. The demand for wildlife animals and products is escalating worldwide. The majority of the wildlife trade into and within the EU is being exercised within the boundaries of the law, however illegal wildlife trade still occurs. Every year the enforcement authorities in the EU make over 5000 seizures. This illegal trafficking does not take into account sustainability concerns and may therefore result in the extinction of a species. Factors such as very high prices for wildlife products on the black market, low political awareness and low penalties aggravate the unsustainable and illegal trade. At the level of the EU many significant achievements in combating illegal wildlife trafficking have been accomplished. The biggest example of that are the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations, which implement the obligations for its member states under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). More in-depth national, regional and international cooperation could even enhance the current initiatives in this context. The European Commission is currently working on a plan of action against illegal wildlife trade. This plan is the result of the Resolution on Wildlife Crime that was filed in 2014 by the European Parliament. This action plan will considerably strengthen the EU's response to illegal trade. Another key issue that needs to be dealt with is the sustainability of the global trade in wildlife. The controlling mechanisms implemented by CITES, that have been introduced worldwide, will always have their weaknesses. No permit system will guarantee that illegal wildlife trade will be banned. Criminal organisations always find the weak links in the systems and use them to plan their transits from one country to the other. Political initiatives to cease illegal wildlife trade will only be effective on the long term, if also the demand in the consuming countries will be tackled. The EU can play a huge role in the global wildlife trade by using its legislative powers to endorse particular objectives outside its territorial borders, such as reducing the demand in major consuming countries.
Table of Contents
I Introduction
II Wildlife Trade
A Definition and Characteristics of Wildlife Trade
B The Global and EU Scale Values of Wildlife Trade
C Why Wildlife Trade Is a Problem
III Regulation and Enforcement Mechanisms of CITES
A History and Purpose of CITES
B How CITES Works
1 Structure
2 Appendices
C Role of the EU in CITES
1 Introduction
2 Vertical interaction with EU
3 Main differences between CITES and the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations
IV EU Political Commitments
A International Commitments
B Regional Commitments
V Other EU Mechanisms to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade
A Due Diligence Regulation on Wildlife Trade
1 Territorial extension
2 Standards in the Due Diligence Regulation on Wildlife Trade
B Free Trade Agreements: Effective for Wildlife Conservation?
1 What is a Free Trade Agreement?
2 European Union and FTA's
3 Sustainable development clauses in FTA's
C Minimum Level of Punishment
1 Introduction
2 Minimum sanction level in the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations
VI Conclusion
Objectives & Core Topics
This essay explores the role of the European Union in combating global illegal wildlife trade by examining existing regulatory frameworks, such as CITES, and proposing new mechanisms to strengthen enforcement. It focuses on the EU's potential to leverage its market power and trade policy to influence conservation standards beyond its borders.
- The role of CITES and the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations in protecting biodiversity.
- The concept of "territorial extension" and "due diligence" as mechanisms to regulate trade.
- The integration of sustainability and wildlife protection clauses within Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
- The necessity of harmonizing minimum sanction levels for wildlife crimes across EU member states.
Excerpt from the Book
B The Global and EU Scale Values of Wildlife Trade
The value of legal global international wildlife trade, based on declaration import values in 2005, is around EUR240 billion a year. About 90 percent of the value is due to trade in timber and fish. To provide a glimpse of the scale of the wildlife trafficking in comparison with the trade of other goods: In 2005 the value of global trade in coffee, tea and spices was estimated at about EUR14 billion a year. So wildlife trade is a huge economic business worldwide.
Ten percent of the global value of the wildlife trade is imputable to wildlife trade in Europe. The EU is one of the largest markets in the worldwide wildlife trade today. In 2005 the value of wildlife trade in the EU was being estimated at EUR93 billion a year, while the estimated global value was about EUR293,5 billion.
The EU is ranked as the top global importer of wildlife commodities, including inter alia orchids, reptile skins and caviar. Below, Table 1 represents an overview of the percentage of EU imports of wildlife commodities in comparison with the US and the rest of the world (RoW).
As one of the main players in wildlife trade, the consumption patters in the EU have a direct impact on the biodiversity loss. Therefore the EU is in a privileged position to control the unsustainable wildlife trade and to assist preventing the decline and extinction of species.
Summary of Chapters
I Introduction: Introduces the scale of the illegal wildlife trade and its status as a major threat to global biodiversity and security.
II Wildlife Trade: Defines wildlife trade and crime, and discusses the global economic value of the sector and its environmental impact.
III Regulation and Enforcement Mechanisms of CITES: Details the history and structure of CITES and examines the EU's vertical interaction with this international agreement.
IV EU Political Commitments: Outlines the international and regional political frameworks adopted by the EU to promote sustainable development and wildlife protection.
V Other EU Mechanisms to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade: Analyzes potential new legislative tools, including a Due Diligence Regulation, wildlife clauses in FTAs, and harmonized punishment levels.
VI Conclusion: Summarizes the need for stronger, more effective enforcement actions at the EU level to curb illegal wildlife trafficking.
Keywords
Illegal wildlife trade, EU, CITES, biodiversity, sustainable development, due diligence, territorial extension, Free Trade Agreements, wildlife crime, poaching, sanction levels, environmental law, wildlife protection, wildlife trafficking, enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
This work examines how the European Union can improve its efforts to combat the global illegal wildlife trade through stricter legislative standards, trade agreements, and harmonized criminal sanctions.
What are the central themes discussed?
The themes include the regulatory framework of CITES, the impact of EU consumption on biodiversity, the potential of "due diligence" regulations, and the role of trade policy in enforcing environmental standards.
What is the core objective of the research?
The objective is to identify and propose effective EU-level mechanisms that go beyond current voluntary recommendations to deter and reduce the illegal trade of wildlife products.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author employs a legal analysis of existing EU and international regulations, policy documents, and data on wildlife trade to derive recommendations for future policy-making.
What does the main body address?
The main body evaluates current CITES implementation, EU political commitments, the efficacy of Free Trade Agreements as a conservation tool, and the necessity of establishing minimum penalties for wildlife offenses.
How can the keywords characterize this work?
Keywords such as "due diligence," "territorial extension," "illegal wildlife trade," and "Free Trade Agreements" highlight the intersection of trade law, environmental policy, and criminal justice.
What is the significance of the proposed EU-China FTA in this essay?
The essay proposes the EU-China FTA as a strategic case study to illustrate how the EU can export its higher wildlife protection standards to a top consuming nation through binding sustainable development clauses.
Why does the author advocate for minimum sanction levels?
The author argues that currently, the significant variation in penalties across EU member states makes certain countries "gateways" for illegal trade, undermining the deterrent effect of criminal law.
- Quote paper
- Elise Verdonck (Author), 2014, The Role of The European Union in the Fight against Global Illegal Wildlife Trade, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/284139
