14 DAY TRIAL // As reported earlier today, the European Parliament has passed a resolution asking that member states of the European Union set in place a moratoria on all ivory sales.
The World Wildlife Fund, otherwise known as the WWF, was quick to congratulate the European Parliament on its decision to pass said resolution, and to express its full support of the initiative.
“The Parliament has laid down a very strong position to stop illegal wildlife products coming into Europe and now Member States cannot ignore the fact that every year tonnes of wildlife plants and animals illegally cross their borders,” said the Director of WWF's European Policy Office, Tony Long.
Together with green group TRAFFIC, the WWF urges that the EU Commission and member states take steps towards making sure that the European Union market becomes free of any illegal wildlife products.
More precisely, the organizations are asking that border controls be improved, and that those found guilty of trafficking wildlife be made to face harsher penalties.
They also say that agencies whose employees are in the business of putting an end to such illegal activities must work together in order to combat wildlife crime.
“We also expect the European Commission to follow the Parliaments’ Resolution in their upcoming Communication on illegal trade and work together with Members States and other international partners to tackle this crime effectively,” Tony Long explained.
“It is imperative that all Members States live up to their responsibilities to police the wildlife trade: any point of weakness will be targeted by those determined to circumvent the law,” the conservationist added.