WRITTEN QUESTION E-1899/02 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Illegal bushmeat trade.
Date: 2002-07-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Central Africa, EU financing, animal life, hunting, illicit trade, marketing restriction, meat, protected species, protection of animal life, public health

C 28 E/152

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

(2003/C 28 E/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1898/02

by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission

(1 July 2002)

Subject: Request for a report on the amount of EU aid supplied to the countries in which most illegal

immigrants originate

EU development cooperation plays a strategic role in the prevention of immigration from outside the
Community.

Unfortunately, not all the countries which receive EU aid cooperate actively with the EU Member States in
combating illegal immigration and in clamping down on trafficking in human beings.

Should research not be carried out into the methods and the extent of those countries’ cooperation in the
fight against illegal immigration?

How much aid is supplied by the EU to the countries in which most illegal immigrants originate?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(7 August 2002)

The Commission regards its development cooperation policy as playing an essential part in bringing major
it shortly plans to present a
migratory flows under control
in the longer term. With this in view,
tackling the
communication on ‘Development and Migration’ which should shed light on ways of
underlying causes of this phenomenon.

As part of preparations for the Seville European Council of June 2002, certain Member States raised the
issue of how to deal with third countries regarded as not cooperating actively enough with the Union to
combat illegal immigration. The Commission endorses the balanced approach reflected in the conclusions
adopted at Seville.

Those conclusions highlight the importance of an integrated, comprehensive approach which tackles the
immigration, and of the role played by economic cooperation, trade expansion,
root causes of illegal
development assistance and conflict prevention. However,
it should be remembered that migration is
inextricably linked to differences in living standards and increasing inequality between countries and
regions of the world.

The European Council also calls for a systematic assessment to be made of relations with third countries
which do not cooperate in combating illegal immigration; that assessment will be taken into account in
respect of relations in all relevant areas between the European Union and the countries concerned. The
Commission will contribute to this exercise.

As for the importance of aid paid to countries of origin, more detailed information on immigration and
asylum will be provided in the report on the effectiveness of financial resources available at Community
level which the European Council has requested the Commission to submit by end-October.

(2003/C 28 E/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1899/02

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(1 July 2002)

Subject: Illegal bushmeat trade

In western and central Africa (and stretching on occasion as far as Europe) an illegal bushmeat trade is
being carried on which is so extensive as to constitute not only the most serious threat to the survival of
gorillas, chimpanzees, orang-utans and gibbons but also a serious risk to public health in the regions
affected.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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This serious problem has been brought to light by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA)
and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) which have condemned, amongst other things, the
effects of this illegal trade, namely:

1.

2.

the eventual impoverishment of native peoples on account of the increasing decline in the number of
wild animals which provide them with food, and

the spread of viral diseases such as Ebola fever and HIV/SIV amongst the human population as a result
of the latter’s consumption of ape meat.

In view of the risks to human health and to the natural balance which stem from this situation, will the
Commission answer the following questions:

(cid:1) Is it prepared to take action in order to end the crisis caused by the illegal bushmeat trade?

(cid:1) Will it ensure that, in connection with logging and economic development projects involving African

countries, steps are taken to halt the growth in the illegal bushmeat trade?

(cid:1) Can it provide specific funding and incorporate clear terms and conditions into financial and

humanitarian aid programmes?

(cid:1) Is it willing to offer support for initiatives which enhance the protected areas?

(cid:1) Does it consider that, for the purpose of combating the illegal bushmeat trade, independent bodies
the above-mentioned terms and

in to check that

(such as Global Witness) should be brought
conditions are observed?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(5 August 2002)

The Commission is aware of the campaign led by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA)
and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) on the bushmeat issue and shares the concern
about illegal bushmeat trade.

Community legislation already provides a means of addressing the conservation aspects of this problem.
Some of the species endangered by the bushmeat crisis, like gorillas and chimpanzees, are included in
Annex A to Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild
fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (1), which implements the Convention on international trade in
endangered species of wild fauna and flora (CITES). The introduction into the Community of specimens or
parts of derivatives of these species is strictly controlled under this regulation. Import for commercial trade
of endangered species included in its Annex A is prohibited.

At present, the Commission finances several conservation projects in Africa in general and particularly in
the Central African region which address this issue.

For example:

(cid:1) The ‘Ecofac’ Programme (Ecosystèmes Forestières Afrique Centrale) has several components in and

around major protected areas to combat, control or prevent poaching;

(cid:1) The project ‘ABAC’

(Alternatives au Braconnage en Afrique Centrale) specifically aims to reduce
poaching by making meat more regularly available on a controlled basis. This should reduce pressure
on animals living in the wild.

Further support for projects depends on requests from the developing countries themselves. With regard to
the involvement of independent bodies, the Commission welcomes any information from any organisation
which would assist it in implementing its wildlife trade legislation and in monitoring the effectiveness of
the projects it funds. It also uses its own Delegations in the relevant countries to obtain such information.

(1) OJ L 61, 3.3.1997.