European Parliament sends positive signal on EU biodiversity strategy to 2020

Posted on 29/03/2012

Eurogroup welcomes the adoption of the draft report on the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 by the European Parliament’s Environment Committee.

Drafted by Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy MEP, the report calls for an integration of biovidersity in all other EU policy fields such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) which are currently being reviewed.

To highlight the animal welfare issues related to biodiversity conservation, Eurogroup together with member organisation IFAW supported a series of amendments, most of which were adopted. These include the need for further policy integration with animal welfare, animal health and trade, and acknowledgment of the role wildlife trade and disease play in contributing to biodiversity loss. Prevention was highlighted as a priority measure and the most cost-effective way to tackle biodiversity loss due to the introduction of invasive alien species (IAS). Last but not least, greater emphasis was also put on the need to reduce the negative impacts of EU consumption that contributes to biodiversity loss by promoting sustainable agriculture and reducing wildlife trade through inclusion of safeguards in trade agreements.

The report, if adopted in Plenary in its current form on 18 April at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, will send a clear signal to the European Commission that EU legislation needs to take these issues into account.