§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that Greek authorities enforce the EU Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [130385]
§ Mr. MullinThe European Commission, rather than the UK Government, is responsible for ensuring that member states meet their obligations under community law. As far as the CITES Convention itself is concerned, following pressure from the CITES Standing Committee (then under UK Chairmanship), Greece announced a series of improvements in February last year which led to the withdrawal of CITES trade sanctions imposed for unsatisfactory implementation of the Convention in September 1998. It will be for the Convention and the Commission to assess whether these improvements have been implemented.