BETA


2013/0418(NLE) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): accession of the EU

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead ENVI AYUSO Pilar (icon: PPE PPE) BRIANO Renata (icon: S&D S&D)
Former Responsible Committee ENVI KORHOLA Eija-Riitta (icon: EPP EPP)
Committee Opinion JURI
Committee Legal Basis Opinion JURI VOSS Axel (icon: PPE PPE)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
TFEU 192-p1, TFEU 192-p2-a1, TFEU 207, TFEU 218-p6a

Events

2015/03/19
   Final act published in Official Journal
Details

PURPOSE: to approve the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2015/451 concerning the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

CONTENT: under this Council decision, the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is hereby approved on behalf of the European Union.

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person empowered to deposit, on behalf of the Union, the instrument of accession in order to express the consent of the Union to be bound by the Convention.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to which 178 countries, including all Member States, are a party, is a major international environmental instrument aiming to protect endangered species of fauna and flora through controls on international trade in specimens of those species. The matters covered by the Convention relate essentially to the protection of the environment.

Accession to the Convention by the Union will enable it to play a role in the work of the Convention and will legally bind the Union to implement and enforce the Convention in matters falling within its competence.

The European Union declared that , in accordance with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 192(1) thereof, it is competent for entering into international agreements, and for implementing the obligations resulting therefrom, which contribute to the pursuit of the following objectives:

· preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment;

· protecting human health;

· prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources;

· promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems, including climate change.

The EU declared that it is responsible for the performance of those obligations resulting from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora which are covered by European Union legislation in force. The exercise of European Union competence is, by its nature, subject to continuous development.

2015/03/06
   EP/CSL - Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
2015/03/06
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2015/03/06
   CSL - Council Meeting
2014/12/16
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2014/12/16
   EP - Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 641 votes to 60, with 1 abstention, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision concerning the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Parliament gave its consent to accession to the Convention.

Documents
2014/12/15
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2014/11/17
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
Details

The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted the report by Pilar AYUSO (EPP, ES) on the draft Council decision concerning the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Accession of the European Union to CITES will enable the EU to be adequately represented at CITES meetings and to play a full role in the work of the Convention, in line with the Treaties and established practices for external representation. It will enable the Commission, on behalf of the European Union, to lead negotiations and to be a catalyst in achieving a balanced compromise between the 28 Member States’ positions. When becoming a Party to the CITES, the European Union will be granted formal responsibilities and become accountable to other Parties for the implementation and enforcement of the Convention.

Accession to CITES by the European Union will render the legal status of the European Union in the CITES more transparent vis-à-vis third parties to the Convention. It is a logical and necessary step to ensure that the European Union is fully able to pursue its objectives under its environmental policy.

Consequently, Members recommended the European Parliament to give its consent to the accession of the EU to the Convention.

Documents
2014/11/05
   EP - Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
2014/10/28
   EP - Specific opinion
Documents
2014/10/20
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2014/09/18
   EP - Committee Legal Basis Opinion
2014/07/10
   EP - Responsible Committee
2014/07/03
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
2014/06/03
   EC - Legislative proposal published
Details

PURPOSE: to approve the Accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent.

CONTEXT: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to which 178 countries, including all Member States, are a party, is a major international environmental instrument aiming to protect endangered species of fauna and flora through controls on international trade in specimens of those species.

The Gaborone amendment to the Convention, adopted by a special Conference of the Parties in Gaborone, Botswana, in 1983, modified Article XXI of the Convention so that access to the Convention, previously limited to States, was opened to regional economic integration organisations constituted by sovereign States having competence in respect of the negotiation, conclusion and implementation of international agreements in matters transferred to them by their Member States and covered by the Convention. The Gaborone amendment to the Convention entered into force on 29 November 2013.

The matters covered by the Convention relate essentially to the protection of the environment. The provisions of the Convention have been implemented uniformly in all Member States since 1 January 1984.

Accession to the Convention by the Union will enable it to play a role in the work of the Convention and will legally bind the Union to implement and enforce the Convention in matters falling within its competence. It will create formal responsibilities for the Union so as to make the Union a Party accountable to other Parties.

The accession of the Union to the Convention will not affect the way in which the positions for the CITES Conference of the Parties are agreed by the Union and its Member States, within the fields of their respective competences, in accordance with the Treaties.

The European Union should therefore accede to the Convention,

CONTENT: with this Decision proposal, the Council is invited to approve in the name of the European Union, approve the Accession of the European Union to CITES .

For the material content of the Protocol, see the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal dated 06/12/2013 .

The accession of the Union to the Convention will have no impact on the way in which the positions for the CITES Conference of the Parties are agreed by the Union and its Member States, within the fields of their respective competences.

The positions of the Union and its Member States for the CITES Conference of the Parties will be expressed in line with relevant practice in the area of multilateral environmental agreements, within the field of their respective competences, in accordance with the Treaties.

Declaration : the Decision also contains an Annex that declares the European Union, is competent for entering into international agreements, and for implementing the obligations resulting therefrom, which contribute to the pursuit of the following objectives:

preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment; protecting human health; prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources; promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems, including climate change.

Finally, the Declaration clarifies that the European Union is responsible for the performance of those obligations resulting from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora which are covered by European Union legislation in force.

Documents
2014/01/20
   EP - Former Responsible Committee
2013/12/06
   EC - Initial legislative proposal published
Details

PURPOSE: to approve the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to which 178 countries, including all Member States, are a party, is a major international instrument aiming at protecting endangered species of fauna and flora through controls on international trade in specimens of those species.

It covers about 35 000 species, which are listed in three Appendices, according to the degree of protection they need. All import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing system.

The initial text of the Convention foresaw that CITES membership would be limited to States only. At the second extraordinary meeting of the Conference of the CITES Parties in Gaborone, Botswana, on 30 April 1983, an amendment to the Convention was agreed. This amendment stipulated that the Convention shall be open for accession by regional economic integration organizations constituted by sovereign States which have competence in respect of the negotiation, conclusion and implementation of international agreements in matters transferred to them by their Member States and covered by this Convention.

The Gaborone amendment entered into force on 29 November 2013, after its ratification by two-thirds of the 80 countries that were Parties at the time of adoption of the amendment. The European Union has been to date an observer to CITES and the entry into force of the Gaborone amendment now allows the European Union to become a Party to CITES.

CONTENT: the proposal for the Council Decision aims at approving the accession of the European Union to CITES .

The matters covered by CITES relate to areas (protection of the environment, trade, internal market, customs) which are subject to Union law. CITES provisions have been implemented in a harmonized manner at EU level since 1984 and are now regulated through Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 and various Commission Regulations.

The accession of the European Union to CITES is a logical and necessary step to ensure that the European Union is fully able to pursue its objectives under its environmental policy.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: CITES, like other Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) administered by UNEP, is financed through assessed contributions paid by all Parties and that are based on the UN Scale of Assessment adopted every three years by the General Assembly.

It is expected that for CITES, the Conference of Parties will decide that, following the accession of the European Union to CITES, the EU should pay 2.5% of the total amount of the CITES Trust fund annually .

The next CoP will only meet in 2016 but the EU will be expected to make a contribution in 2014 and 2015 (approximately EUR 112 000 , 2.5% of the total amount of the CITES Trust fund for 2015), in line with the practice that Parties should contribute as soon as they accede.

Documents

Activities

Votes

A8-0036/2014 - Pilar Ayuso - Approbation #

2014/12/16 Outcome: +: 641, -: 60, 0: 1
DE IT ES PL RO FR GB PT BE HU NL AT CZ BG EL SE FI SK DK HR LT IE LV SI LU CY EE MT
Total
92
65
50
49
29
71
69
20
20
19
26
18
19
16
18
17
13
13
12
11
9
8
8
7
6
6
5
5
icon: PPE PPE
201

Sweden PPE

For (1)

1

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1
2

Luxembourg PPE

3

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
179

Netherlands S&D

3

Greece S&D

2

Croatia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

1

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

3
icon: ALDE ALDE
66

Romania ALDE

3

United Kingdom ALDE

1

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Denmark ALDE

2

Croatia ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

3
icon: ECR ECR
65

Netherlands ECR

2

Czechia ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

1

Greece ECR

For (1)

1

Finland ECR

2

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
49

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Hungary Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
48

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Czechia GUE/NGL

2

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

3

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
icon: EFDD EFDD
43

Poland EFDD

1

France EFDD

1

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Sweden EFDD

2
icon: NI NI
50

Germany NI

For (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

1

Belgium NI

Abstain (1)

1

Hungary NI

2

Netherlands NI

4

Latvia NI

1

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

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  • date: 2015-03-06T00:00:00 body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Environment meeting_id: 3373
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  • date: 2015-03-19T00:00:00 type: Final act published in Official Journal docs: url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32015D0451 title: Decision 2015/451 url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2015:075:TOC title: OJ L 075 19.03.2015, p. 0001
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  • body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Environment meeting_id: 3373 url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=SMPL&ROWSPP=25&RESULTSET=1&NRROWS=500&DOC_LANCD=EN&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC&CONTENTS=3373*&MEET_DATE=06/03/2015 date: 2015-03-06T00:00:00
docs
  • date: 2014-10-20T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE537.346 title: PE537.346 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2014-10-28T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE539.666 title: PE539.666 committee: JURI type: Specific opinion body: EP
events
  • date: 2013-12-06T00:00:00 type: Initial legislative proposal published body: EC docs: url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2013&nu_doc=0867 title: EUR-Lex title: COM(2013)0867 summary: PURPOSE: to approve the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. BACKGROUND: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to which 178 countries, including all Member States, are a party, is a major international instrument aiming at protecting endangered species of fauna and flora through controls on international trade in specimens of those species. It covers about 35 000 species, which are listed in three Appendices, according to the degree of protection they need. All import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing system. The initial text of the Convention foresaw that CITES membership would be limited to States only. At the second extraordinary meeting of the Conference of the CITES Parties in Gaborone, Botswana, on 30 April 1983, an amendment to the Convention was agreed. This amendment stipulated that the Convention shall be open for accession by regional economic integration organizations constituted by sovereign States which have competence in respect of the negotiation, conclusion and implementation of international agreements in matters transferred to them by their Member States and covered by this Convention. The Gaborone amendment entered into force on 29 November 2013, after its ratification by two-thirds of the 80 countries that were Parties at the time of adoption of the amendment. The European Union has been to date an observer to CITES and the entry into force of the Gaborone amendment now allows the European Union to become a Party to CITES. CONTENT: the proposal for the Council Decision aims at approving the accession of the European Union to CITES . The matters covered by CITES relate to areas (protection of the environment, trade, internal market, customs) which are subject to Union law. CITES provisions have been implemented in a harmonized manner at EU level since 1984 and are now regulated through Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 and various Commission Regulations. The accession of the European Union to CITES is a logical and necessary step to ensure that the European Union is fully able to pursue its objectives under its environmental policy. BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: CITES, like other Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) administered by UNEP, is financed through assessed contributions paid by all Parties and that are based on the UN Scale of Assessment adopted every three years by the General Assembly. It is expected that for CITES, the Conference of Parties will decide that, following the accession of the European Union to CITES, the EU should pay 2.5% of the total amount of the CITES Trust fund annually . The next CoP will only meet in 2016 but the EU will be expected to make a contribution in 2014 and 2015 (approximately EUR 112 000 , 2.5% of the total amount of the CITES Trust fund for 2015), in line with the practice that Parties should contribute as soon as they accede.
  • date: 2014-06-03T00:00:00 type: Legislative proposal published body: EC docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=9412%2F14&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 09412/2014 summary: PURPOSE: to approve the Accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent. CONTEXT: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to which 178 countries, including all Member States, are a party, is a major international environmental instrument aiming to protect endangered species of fauna and flora through controls on international trade in specimens of those species. The Gaborone amendment to the Convention, adopted by a special Conference of the Parties in Gaborone, Botswana, in 1983, modified Article XXI of the Convention so that access to the Convention, previously limited to States, was opened to regional economic integration organisations constituted by sovereign States having competence in respect of the negotiation, conclusion and implementation of international agreements in matters transferred to them by their Member States and covered by the Convention. The Gaborone amendment to the Convention entered into force on 29 November 2013. The matters covered by the Convention relate essentially to the protection of the environment. The provisions of the Convention have been implemented uniformly in all Member States since 1 January 1984. Accession to the Convention by the Union will enable it to play a role in the work of the Convention and will legally bind the Union to implement and enforce the Convention in matters falling within its competence. It will create formal responsibilities for the Union so as to make the Union a Party accountable to other Parties. The accession of the Union to the Convention will not affect the way in which the positions for the CITES Conference of the Parties are agreed by the Union and its Member States, within the fields of their respective competences, in accordance with the Treaties. The European Union should therefore accede to the Convention, CONTENT: with this Decision proposal, the Council is invited to approve in the name of the European Union, approve the Accession of the European Union to CITES . For the material content of the Protocol, see the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal dated 06/12/2013 . The accession of the Union to the Convention will have no impact on the way in which the positions for the CITES Conference of the Parties are agreed by the Union and its Member States, within the fields of their respective competences. The positions of the Union and its Member States for the CITES Conference of the Parties will be expressed in line with relevant practice in the area of multilateral environmental agreements, within the field of their respective competences, in accordance with the Treaties. Declaration : the Decision also contains an Annex that declares the European Union, is competent for entering into international agreements, and for implementing the obligations resulting therefrom, which contribute to the pursuit of the following objectives: preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment; protecting human health; prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources; promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems, including climate change. Finally, the Declaration clarifies that the European Union is responsible for the performance of those obligations resulting from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora which are covered by European Union legislation in force.
  • date: 2014-07-03T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2014-11-05T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2014-11-17T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2014-0036&language=EN title: A8-0036/2014 summary: The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted the report by Pilar AYUSO (EPP, ES) on the draft Council decision concerning the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Accession of the European Union to CITES will enable the EU to be adequately represented at CITES meetings and to play a full role in the work of the Convention, in line with the Treaties and established practices for external representation. It will enable the Commission, on behalf of the European Union, to lead negotiations and to be a catalyst in achieving a balanced compromise between the 28 Member States’ positions. When becoming a Party to the CITES, the European Union will be granted formal responsibilities and become accountable to other Parties for the implementation and enforcement of the Convention. Accession to CITES by the European Union will render the legal status of the European Union in the CITES more transparent vis-à-vis third parties to the Convention. It is a logical and necessary step to ensure that the European Union is fully able to pursue its objectives under its environmental policy. Consequently, Members recommended the European Parliament to give its consent to the accession of the EU to the Convention.
  • date: 2014-12-15T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20141215&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2014-12-16T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=24901&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2014-12-16T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2014-0075 title: T8-0075/2014 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 641 votes to 60, with 1 abstention, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision concerning the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Parliament gave its consent to accession to the Convention.
  • date: 2015-03-06T00:00:00 type: Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament body: EP/CSL
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  • date: 2015-03-19T00:00:00 type: Final act published in Official Journal summary: PURPOSE: to approve the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2015/451 concerning the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CONTENT: under this Council decision, the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is hereby approved on behalf of the European Union. The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person empowered to deposit, on behalf of the Union, the instrument of accession in order to express the consent of the Union to be bound by the Convention. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to which 178 countries, including all Member States, are a party, is a major international environmental instrument aiming to protect endangered species of fauna and flora through controls on international trade in specimens of those species. The matters covered by the Convention relate essentially to the protection of the environment. Accession to the Convention by the Union will enable it to play a role in the work of the Convention and will legally bind the Union to implement and enforce the Convention in matters falling within its competence. The European Union declared that , in accordance with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 192(1) thereof, it is competent for entering into international agreements, and for implementing the obligations resulting therefrom, which contribute to the pursuit of the following objectives: · preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment; · protecting human health; · prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources; · promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems, including climate change. The EU declared that it is responsible for the performance of those obligations resulting from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora which are covered by European Union legislation in force. The exercise of European Union competence is, by its nature, subject to continuous development. docs: title: Decision 2015/451 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32015D0451 title: OJ L 075 19.03.2015, p. 0001 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2015:075:TOC
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  • PURPOSE: to approve the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

    LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2015/451 concerning the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

    CONTENT: under this Council decision, the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is hereby approved on behalf of the European Union.

    The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person empowered to deposit, on behalf of the Union, the instrument of accession in order to express the consent of the Union to be bound by the Convention.

    The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to which 178 countries, including all Member States, are a party, is a major international environmental instrument aiming to protect endangered species of fauna and flora through controls on international trade in specimens of those species. The matters covered by the Convention relate essentially to the protection of the environment.

    Accession to the Convention by the Union will enable it to play a role in the work of the Convention and will legally bind the Union to implement and enforce the Convention in matters falling within its competence.

    The European Union declared that, in accordance with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 192(1) thereof, it is competent for entering into international agreements, and for implementing the obligations resulting therefrom, which contribute to the pursuit of the following objectives:

    ·         preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment;

    ·         protecting human health;

    ·         prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources;

    ·         promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems, including climate change.

    The EU declared that it is responsible for the performance of those obligations resulting from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora which are covered by European Union legislation in force. The exercise of European Union competence is, by its nature, subject to continuous development.

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  • The European Parliament adopted by 641 votes to 60, with 1 abstention, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision concerning the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

    Parliament gave its consent to accession to the Convention.

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  • The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted the report by Pilar AYUSO (EPP, ES) on the draft Council decision concerning the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

    Accession of the European Union to CITES will enable the EU to be adequately represented at CITES meetings and to play a full role in the work of the Convention, in line with the Treaties and established practices for external representation. It will enable the Commission, on behalf of the European Union, to lead negotiations and to be a catalyst in achieving a balanced compromise between the 28 Member States’ positions. When becoming a Party to the CITES, the European Union will be granted formal responsibilities and become accountable to other Parties for the implementation and enforcement of the Convention.

    Accession to CITES by the European Union will render the legal status of the European Union in the CITES more transparent vis-à-vis third parties to the Convention. It is a logical and necessary step to ensure that the European Union is fully able to pursue its objectives under its environmental policy.

    Consequently, Members recommended the European Parliament to give its consent to the accession of the EU to the Convention.

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  • PURPOSE: to approve the Accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

    PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

    ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent.

    CONTEXT: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to which 178 countries, including all Member States, are a party, is a major international environmental instrument aiming to protect endangered species of fauna and flora through controls on international trade in specimens of those species.

    The Gaborone amendment to the Convention, adopted by a special Conference of the Parties in Gaborone, Botswana, in 1983, modified Article XXI of the Convention so that access to the Convention, previously limited to States, was opened to regional economic integration organisations constituted by sovereign States having competence in respect of the negotiation, conclusion and implementation of international agreements in matters transferred to them by their Member States and covered by the Convention. The Gaborone amendment to the Convention entered into force on 29 November 2013.

    The matters covered by the Convention relate essentially to the protection of the environment. The provisions of the Convention have been implemented uniformly in all Member States since 1 January 1984.

    Accession to the Convention by the Union will enable it to play a role in the work of the Convention and will legally bind the Union to implement and enforce the Convention in matters falling within its competence. It will create formal responsibilities for the Union so as to make the Union a Party accountable to other Parties.

    The accession of the Union to the Convention will not affect the way in which the positions for the CITES Conference of the Parties are agreed by the Union and its Member States, within the fields of their respective competences, in accordance with the Treaties.

    The European Union should therefore accede to the Convention,

    CONTENT: with this Decision proposal, the Council is invited to approve in the name of the European Union, approve the Accession of the European Union to CITES.

    For the material content of the Protocol, see the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal dated 06/12/2013.

    The accession of the Union to the Convention will have no impact on the way in which the positions for the CITES Conference of the Parties are agreed by the Union and its Member States, within the fields of their respective competences.

    The positions of the Union and its Member States for the CITES Conference of the Parties will be expressed in line with relevant practice in the area of multilateral environmental  agreements, within the field of their respective competences, in accordance with the Treaties.

    Declaration: the Decision also contains an Annex that declares the European Union, is competent for entering into international agreements, and for implementing the obligations resulting therefrom, which contribute to the pursuit of the following objectives:

    • preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment;
    • protecting human health;
    • prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources;
    • promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems, including climate change.

    Finally, the Declaration clarifies that the European Union is responsible for the performance of those obligations resulting from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora which are covered by European Union legislation in force.

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  • PURPOSE: to approve the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

    PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

    ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

    BACKGROUND: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to which 178 countries, including all Member States, are a party, is a major international instrument aiming at protecting endangered species of fauna and flora through controls on international trade in specimens of those species.

    It covers about 35 000 species, which are listed in three Appendices, according to the degree of protection they need. All import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing system.

    The initial text of the Convention foresaw that CITES membership would be limited to States only. At the second extraordinary meeting of the Conference of the CITES Parties in Gaborone, Botswana, on 30 April 1983, an amendment to the Convention was agreed. This amendment stipulated that the Convention shall be open for accession by regional economic integration organizations constituted by sovereign States which have competence in respect of the negotiation, conclusion and implementation of international agreements in matters transferred to them by their Member States and covered by this Convention.

    The Gaborone amendment entered into force on 29 November 2013, after its ratification by two-thirds of the 80 countries that were Parties at the time of adoption of the amendment. The European Union has been to date an observer to CITES and the entry into force of the Gaborone amendment now allows the European Union to become a Party to CITES.

    CONTENT: the proposal for the Council Decision aims at approving the accession of the European Union to CITES.

    The matters covered by CITES relate to areas (protection of the environment, trade, internal market, customs) which are subject to Union law. CITES provisions have been implemented in a harmonized manner at EU level since 1984 and are now regulated through Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 and various Commission Regulations.

    The accession of the European Union to CITES is a logical and necessary step to ensure that the European Union is fully able to pursue its objectives under its environmental policy.

    BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: CITES, like other Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) administered by UNEP, is financed through assessed contributions paid by all Parties and that are based on the UN Scale of Assessment adopted every three years by the General Assembly.

    It is expected that for CITES, the Conference of Parties will decide that, following the accession of the European Union to CITES, the EU should pay 2.5% of the total amount of the CITES Trust fund annually.

    The next CoP will only meet in 2016 but the EU will be expected to make a contribution in 2014 and 2015 (approximately EUR 112 000, 2.5% of the total amount of the CITES Trust fund for 2015), in line with the practice that Parties should contribute as soon as they accede.

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  • PURPOSE: to approve the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

    PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

    ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. 

    BACKGROUND: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to which 178 countries, including all Member States, are a party, is a major international instrument aiming at protecting endangered species of fauna and flora through controls on international trade in specimens of those species.

    It covers about 35 000 species, which are listed in three Appendices, according to the degree of protection they need. All import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing system.

    The initial text of the Convention foresaw that CITES membership would be limited to States only. At the second extraordinary meeting of the Conference of the CITES Parties in Gaborone, Botswana, on 30 April 1983, an amendment to the Convention was agreed. This amendment stipulated that the Convention shall be open for accession by regional economic integration organizations constituted by sovereign States which have competence in respect of the negotiation, conclusion and implementation of international agreements in matters transferred to them by their Member States and covered by this Convention.

    The Gaborone amendment entered into force on 29 November 2013, after its ratification by two-thirds of the 80 countries that were Parties at the time of adoption of the amendment. The European Union has been to date an observer to CITES and the entry into force of the Gaborone amendment now allows the European Union to become a Party to CITES.

    CONTENT: the proposal for the Council Decision aims at approving the accession of the European Union to CITES.

    The matters covered by CITES relate to areas (protection of the environment, trade, internal market, customs) which are subject to Union law. CITES provisions have been implemented in a harmonized manner at EU level since 1984 and are now regulated through Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 and various Commission Regulations.

    The accession of the European Union to CITES is a logical and necessary step to ensure that the European Union is fully able to pursue its objectives under its environmental policy.

    BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: CITES, like other Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) administered by UNEP, is financed through assessed contributions paid by all Parties and that are based on the UN Scale of Assessment adopted every three years by the General Assembly.

    It is expected that for CITES, the Conference of Parties will decide that, following the accession of the European Union to CITES, the EU should pay 2.5% of the total amount of the CITES Trust fund annually.

    The next CoP will only meet in 2016 but the EU will be expected to make a contribution in 2014 and 2015 (approximately EUR 112 000, 2.5% of the total amount of the CITES Trust fund for 2015), in line with the practice that Parties should contribute as soon as they accede.

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  • PURPOSE: to approve the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

    PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

    ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. 

    BACKGROUND: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to which 178 countries, including all Member States, are a party, is a major international instrument aiming at protecting endangered species of fauna and flora through controls on international trade in specimens of those species.

    It covers about 35 000 species, which are listed in three Appendices, according to the degree of protection they need. All import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing system.

    The initial text of the Convention foresaw that CITES membership would be limited to States only. At the second extraordinary meeting of the Conference of the CITES Parties in Gaborone, Botswana, on 30 April 1983, an amendment to the Convention was agreed. This amendment stipulated that the Convention shall be open for accession by regional economic integration organizations constituted by sovereign States which have competence in respect of the negotiation, conclusion and implementation of international agreements in matters transferred to them by their Member States and covered by this Convention.

    The Gaborone amendment entered into force on 29 November 2013, after its ratification by two-thirds of the 80 countries that were Parties at the time of adoption of the amendment. The European Union has been to date an observer to CITES and the entry into force of the Gaborone amendment now allows the European Union to become a Party to CITES.

    CONTENT: the proposal for the Council Decision aims at approving the accession of the European Union to CITES.

    The matters covered by CITES relate to areas (protection of the environment, trade, internal market, customs) which are subject to Union law. CITES provisions have been implemented in a harmonized manner at EU level since 1984 and are now regulated through Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 and various Commission Regulations.

    The accession of the European Union to CITES is a logical and necessary step to ensure that the European Union is fully able to pursue its objectives under its environmental policy.

    BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: CITES, like other Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) administered by UNEP, is financed through assessed contributions paid by all Parties and that are based on the UN Scale of Assessment adopted every three years by the General Assembly.

    It is expected that for CITES, the Conference of Parties will decide that, following the accession of the European Union to CITES, the EU should pay 2.5% of the total amount of the CITES Trust fund annually.

    The next CoP will only meet in 2016 but the EU will be expected to make a contribution in 2014 and 2015 (approximately EUR 112 000, 2.5% of the total amount of the CITES Trust fund for 2015), in line with the practice that Parties should contribute as soon as they accede.

activities/1
date
2014-03-19T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Vote scheduled in committee, 1st reading/single reading
activities/2
date
2014-04-15T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
committees/0/date
2014-01-20T00:00:00
committees/0/rapporteur
  • group: EPP name: KORHOLA Eija-Riitta
activities/0/type
Old
Legislative proposal
New
Legislative proposal published
activities/0/commission/0
DG
Commissioner
POTOČNIK Janez
other/0
body
EC
dg
commissioner
POTOČNIK Janez
activities/0/docs/0/url
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2013&nu_doc=0867
activities
  • date: 2013-12-06T00:00:00 docs: celexid: CELEX:52013PC0867:EN type: Legislative proposal published title: COM(2013)0867 type: Legislative proposal body: EC commission:
committees
  • body: EP responsible: True committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI
  • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Legal Affairs committee: JURI
links
European Commission
other
    procedure
    reference
    2013/0418(NLE)
    title
    Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): accession of the EU
    legal_basis
    stage_reached
    Preparatory phase in Parliament
    subtype
    Consent by Parliament
    type
    NLE - Non-legislative enactments
    subject