Stolen Wildlife

Closing the loopholes in the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations This hybrid event will address the need to close the loopholes in the current EU Wildlife Trade Regulations.Many threatened species are protected from exploitation in their home countries, but are not protected from being traded, either through domestic legislation or by CITES. As a result, wildlife traffickers are able to easily smuggle these animals into legal (or illegal) international trade flows, particularly as exotic pets, and once out of their countries of origin, little can be done to stop the trade in these species. To address this devastating practice, it is imperative that the EU commits to adopting legislation that criminalises the importation, transhipment, purchase, and sale of wildlife taken illegally in the country of origin.As part of its revised EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking commitments, the European Commission recently published a feasibility study on the criminalisation of the trade in illegally sourced wildlife. During this event, experts will discuss the opportunities and challenges offered by some of the solutions identified by the study. One panel will consider the possibility to expand the scope of TRACES in order to collect species-specific data on the imported wildlife, while the second will analyse legislative solutions.This event is organised by MEPs for Wildlife - a cross-party group of MEPs who are interested in wildlife trade issues - in conjunction with Pro Wildlife, IFAW, Humane World for Animals, Four Paws and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). These NGOs will also be presenting their new Stolen Wildlife report at this event.It is kindly hosted by MEPs Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (Renew Europe), César Luena (S&D) and Anja Hazekamp (The Left).There is now a waiting list for people wishing to attend the event in person. If you already have accreditation to enter the Parliament buildling, please just let us know that you plan to attend.AgendaOpening remarks - Cesar Luena MEP (S&D)Feasibility study on the criminalisation of the trade in illegally sourced wildlife: presentation of the outcomes - Julia Rusch, European Commission DG ENV - Global Environmental Cooperation and MultilateralismPresentation of Stolen Wildlife V report - Dr Sandra Altherr, Pro WildlifePanel 1: A comprehensive EU databaseModerator: Dr Joanna Swabe, Humane World for Animals- Captain Maria del Rocio Bigeriego, Environmental Protection Service, SEPRONA, Spain- Tanya Wyatt, Lead Researcher on Crimes that Affect the Environment from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime- Dr. Monica Biondo, Head of Research and Conservation at the Foundation Franz WeberQ&APanel 2: Legislative solutionsModerator: Ilaria Di Silvestre, IFAW• Ondrej Koporec, Head of the investigation unit, Department for Detection of Hazardous Material and Environmental Crime, Slovakia, and Chairperson of EnviCrimeNet.- Erica Leyman, Professor of Law & Director, Global Law Alliance for Animals and the Environment, Lewis & Clark Law School- Alice Di Concetto Executive Director and Chief Legal Advisor, European Institute for Animal Law and PolicyQ&AClosing remarks from Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy MEP (Renew)* Please note that for security reasons and due to the limited seating availability, the organisers will give priority to registrants who are accredited to enter the European Parliament premises and those with a clear professional interest in the issue under discussion. Attendees consent to their filming and sound recording.