Conference on the EU Approach Against Wildlife Trafficking, 10 April 2014, Brussels

Leopard The conference aimed to identify measures and actions to be undertaken by the EU domestically and internationally to strengthen its approach against wildlife trafficking. More than 170 representatives from 27 EU Member States, the European Parliament, Europol, Eurojust, judges and prosecutors networks, key international organizations, civil society, research institutions and important non-EU source, transit and market countries (China, Kenya, Vietnam, DRC, Republic of Congo, South Africa and United States) participated in the conference, which was opened by Commissioner Potočnik and John Scanlon, CITES Secretary General (via video message).

Agenda (pdf)

Opening session

Opening statement Commissioner Potočnik
Statement by Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Member of the European Parliament and Vice-Chairman ENVI Committee
Video message John Scanlon, Secretary-General of CITES

Part I: Strengthening EU enforcement against wildlife trafficking

Moderator	Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea, Director for Implementation, Governance and Semester in DG Environment
Panelists	Franz Boehmer, Enforcement officer in the German CITES Management Authority
	Grant Miller, Senior Officer, CITES Enforcement, Heathrow Airport, UK
	Andrew Bird, Prosecuting Barrister, UK
	Jan Van den Berghe, Vice President of the Court of First Instance Ghent
	Azzedine Downes, IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare)

Part II: Fight against organized wildlife crime

Moderator	Anabela Gago, Head of the Unit in charge of organized crime in DG Home Affairs
Panelists	Debbie Banks, EIA (Environment Investigation Agency)
	John M. Sellar OBE (Anti-Smuggling, Fraud and Organized Crime Consultant)
	Jorge Rios, UN Office on Drugs and Crime
	Catherine Alfonsi, Europol (European Union’s law enforcement agency)
	Leif Goerts, Eurojust (European Union's Judicial Cooperation Unit)

Part III: EU action at international level- Development Support and Diplomatic Action

Opening statement by Roberto Ridolfi, Director for sustainable growth and development in the Directorate General for Development and Cooperation

Moderator	Timo Makela, Director for Global and Regional Challenges in DG Environment
Panelists	Henri Djombo, Minister for Forestry Economy and Sustainable Development, Republic of Congo
	Christine Dawson, Director, Office of Conservation and Water, U.S. Department of State
	Wan Ziming, CITES Management Authority, China
	Patrick Omondi, Wildlife Service, Kenya
	Steve Broad, Executive Director, TRAFFIC
	Daniel Guyader, Head of Global Issues Division, European External Action Service (EEAS)

Summary outcome of the conference

A recording of the conference can be viewed here.

Replies to Consultation on the EU approach against Wildlife Trafficking (zip 21,7 MB)