• EN - English
  • PT - português
Parliamentary question - E-003288/2018Parliamentary question
E-003288/2018

Protecting elephants and the ivory trade

Question for written answer E-003288-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Miguel Viegas (GUE/NGL)

Every year around 20 000 elephants are killed for their ivory. Such high numbers are leading to the extinction of this species, which is the biggest land animal on the planet. The African continent has just 415 000 elephants left, 111 000 fewer than a decade ago, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The European Union is the biggest exporter of ivory in the world, with exports of worked ivory increasing exponentially over the last two years following a recommendation by the European Commission in May 2017 to put an end to the exportation of raw ivory. A number of African countries have asked the EU to ban the trade of ivory.

Can the Commission say what it thinks the impact of the recommendation of May 2017 has been on the trafficking of ivory and the poaching of elephants. Can the Commission also report on the outcome of conversations with Member States on the total prohibition of the ivory trade, demanded by most African countries and a large proportion of the scientific community.

Last updated: 28 June 2018
Legal notice - Privacy policy