B4-0109/94

Resolution on the South African proposal to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to downlist its elephant population from Appendix I to Appendix II

The European Parliament,

A.aware that the African elephant population was reduced from 1.3 million in 1979 to 600 000 in 1989 as a result of intensive poaching for ivory to supply the major consumer markets of Europe, USA and the Far East,

B.having regard to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna (CITES), implemented in the EU by Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3626/82, and aware that all international trade in elephant products was prohibited by CITES in 1989,

C.aware also that the South African downlisting proposal calls for the immediate resumption of international trade in meat and hides with the clear intention of trading in ivory in the near future,

D.recognizing that South Africa's downlisting proposal will place all other elephant populations at risk,

E.recalling CITES Resolution Conf. 7.9 (1989) requesting that certain criteria must be fulfilled by any state wishing to transfer their elephant population from Appendix I to Appendix II and recognizing that South Africa does not meet these criteria,

F.noting that South Africa's elephant population is part of a regional population that includes elephants which migrated from Mozambique,

G.recognizing that public awareness in consumer states has been and remains essential to the control of poaching and illegal international trade in elephant products,

H.noting that the South African proposal will undermine international public awareness created by the Appendix I listing of all elephant populations,

1.Calls upon the Commission of the European Union to oppose South Africa's downlisting proposal at the CITES Conference of the Parties in November 1994, and announce its support for the maintenance of Appendix I for all African elephants;

2.Calls on the Council to resist all attempts to downlist the African elephant from Appendix I to Appendix II;

3.Calls also on the relevant Ministers of the Member States not to accept any derogations or downlisting;

4.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States and the CITES Conference.