WRITTEN QUESTION E-2101/01 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Trade in parrots and other exotic birds and banning the import of CITES-listed species.
Date: 2001-07-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: bird, import (EU), import policy, import restriction, protected species, protection of animals

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/107

Recent studies show that it is possible to detect effects of a changing climate on ecosystems. This suggests
that global change is a current threat to conservation and biodiversity and that this threat will become
more pronounced in the future. Serious impact can be expected on the distribution of species and habitats
and will cause major disruptions on the distribution, composition and dynamics of many ecosystems.
Climate change is already one of the causes of coral bleaching around the world with serious direct impact
on the biodiversity both of the coral reefs themselves and of some high seas fish whose populations
depend on the reefs during parts of their life cycle. This is therefore one of the main reasons why we must
address climate change.

Our policy regarding climate change and biodiversity is based on the following elements:

(cid:129) putting measures in place in line with the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gasses and thus

minimise, as far as possible, climate change,

(cid:129) ensuring that mitigation initiatives taken in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, in particular regarding
deforestation, afforestation and reforestation, are conducive to the conservation and sustainable use of
biological diversity,

(cid:129) integrating biodiversity considerations in the establishment and the implementation of adaptation

measures referred to in the Kyoto Protocol, and

(cid:129) promoting the implementation of Decision IV/15 of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention
on Biological Diversity (1), which calls for closer co-operation with the Framework Convention on
Climate Change (2).

(1) http://www.biodiv.org/convention/partners-background.asp?lg=0.
(2) http://www.unfccc.de/.

(2002/C 81 E/128)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2101/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Trade in parrots and other exotic birds and banning the import of CITES-listed species

Is the Commission aware of the report in the (cid:145)New Scientist(cid:146) of 9 June 2001, which begins with the

1.
words (cid:145)The pet trade is driving parrots to extinction(cid:146)?

2.
Is it aware that the report goes on to blame, inter alia, the European Community and its Member
States for failing to implement laws that could stop the import of exotic birds taken illegally from the wild,
notably parrots?

3.
Does the Commission share my concern at the findings of research biologists who have discovered
that 30 % of the nests of New World parrots are destroyed by poachers and that for four endangered
species of parrot the figure was 70 %?

4.
Does it further share my concern at the findings of a separate study, reported in the same article, that
shows that the illegal trade in exotic birds flourishes largely as the result of the existence of a massive legal
trade which provides it with a smokescreen behind which to hide?

5.
Does the Commission agree that the European Union and its Member States should follow the
example of the 1992 United States Wild Bird Conservation Act and ban completely the import of CITES-
listed species?

C 81 E/108

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(6 September 2001)

The Commission took notice of the article edited by the (cid:145)New Scientist(cid:146) of 9 June 2001 and reacted on
12 June by sending a letter to the editor reading as follows:

Your readers may be forgiven to gaining the impression from the article (cid:145)Sick as a parrot(cid:146) [http://
www.newscientist.com/dailynews/news.jsp?id=ns9999836] that the European Union (EU) does not
implement international agreements designed to regulate trade in parrots.

In fact the European Union legislation which implements the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is amongst the most comprehensive of its kind in
the world. This is despite the fact that the EU has been unable to become a Party to CITES because an
insufficient number of existing CITES Parties have ratified an amendment to the treaty which would
allow this to happen.

The vast majority of trade in parrots between Latin America and the EU is undertaken under quotas
established by the countries of export themselves. EU Member States help to ensure that these quotas
are respected by checking that each consignment is a proper part of the quota before the shipment is
made. If we are not satisfied that the trade is at sustainable levels we can temporarily suspend import
of certain species from certain countries. We have not hesitated to do this where necessary and then
have worked with the exporting countries to help put things right.

We are always seeking to improve our controls and welcome suggestions from all quarters at any
time. Regrettably the authors of the study quoted chose not to consult us before drawing their
conclusions.

With regard to the question of an import ban for all species listed under CITES, the Commission would
refer the Honourable Member to its answers to his Written Questions E-238/01, E-239/01, E-240/01 (1)
and E-1786/01 (2) explaining the various aspects of the effectiveness of the Community legislation on trade
in wildlife and its compliance with the principle of sustainable use of wildlife, the latter principle being
considered a better solution for conservation of wildlife by many authorities worldwide.

(1) OJ C 261 E, 18.9.2001, p. 71.
(2) OJ C 40 E, 14.2.2002, p. 106.

(2002/C 81 E/129)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2103/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Democratic control over European trade policy

The fifteen Member States oppose any role for the European Parliament
in the European Union(cid:146)s
commercial and industrial policy. This is apparent from the joint answer to questions E-0619/01 (1),
E-4034/00, E-4036/00 and E-4037/00 (2). According to the ministers, the relevant committee(cid:146)s proposals
and working documents are confidential and are subject to the decisions on public access to Council
documents.

However, the Council has not adopted an unambiguous position regarding the Commission(cid:146)s proposal (cid:145)to
enhance the role of the European Parliament substantially in all aspects of trade policy(cid:146) (3) (P-3674/00). Yet
Lamy says that (cid:145)this would not only increase the accountability of trade policy but also its efficiency
because our trading partners would know that the Commission negotiates with the full backing of the
democratically elected representatives of European citizens(cid:146).