THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 192(1) thereof, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The Union acceded to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) by Council Decision (EU) 2015/451(1). CITES has been implemented in the Union by Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97(2).
(2) Pursuant to Article XI(3) of CITES, the Conference of the Parties (CoP) may, inter alia, adopt amendments to the CITES Appendices.
(3) The CoP, during its 18th meeting from 17 to 28 August 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland (CITES CoP 18), is to adopt decisions on 57 proposals to amend the CITES Appendices, as well as on numerous other matters related to the implementation and interpretation of CITES.
(4) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf at CITES CoP 18, as the amendments to the CITES Appendices will be binding on the Union and its Member States and several other decisions will be capable of decisively influencing the content of Union law, in particular Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006(3) and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 792/2012(4).
(5) The proposed position to be taken on the different proposals at CITES CoP 18 is based on expert analysis of their merits, in the light of the best available scientific and technical evidence,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Council Decision (EU) 2015/451 of 6 March 2015 concerning the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (OJ L 75, 19.3.2015, p. 1).
Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (OJ L 61, 3.3.1997, p. 1).
Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 of 4 May 2006 laying down detailed rules concerning the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (OJ L 166, 19.6.2006, p. 1).
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 792/2012 of 23 August 2012 laying down rules for the design of permits, certificates and other documents provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein and amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 (OJ L 242, 7.9.2012, p. 13).