COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2023/1034

of 22 May 2023

on the submission, on behalf of the European Union, of a proposal to amend Appendix I to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals with a view to the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 192(1), in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (1) (the ‘Convention’) was concluded by the Union by Council Decision 82/461/EEC (2) and entered into force on 1 November 1983.

(2) Pursuant to Article XI of the Convention, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (the ‘Conference of the Parties’) is able to adopt amendments to Appendices I and II to the Convention.

(3) The Conference of the Parties, during its fourteenth meeting from 23 to 28 October 2023, may adopt such amendments. The Secretariat of the Convention has informed the Parties to the Convention that any proposals for amendment are to be communicated, in accordance with Article XI(3) of the Convention, by 26 May 2023. The Union may, as a Party to the Convention, make such proposals.

(4) The inclusion of the Baltic Proper harbour porpoise,

Phocoena phocoena

(only the Baltic Proper population), in Appendix I to the Convention would be scientifically sound on account of its Critically Endangered conservation status, and in line with Union legislation and with the Union’s commitment to international cooperation for the protection of biodiversity.

(5) The Union should therefore submit such proposal to amend Appendix I to the Convention. The Commission should communicate the proposal to the Secretariat of the Convention,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1.   With a view to the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, the Union shall submit a proposal for an amendment to Appendix I to the Convention to include the Baltic Proper harbour porpoise,

Phocoena phocoena

(only the Baltic Proper population).

2.   The Commission, on behalf of the Union, shall communicate the proposal referred to in paragraph 1 to the Secretariat of the Convention.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 22 May 2023.

For the Council

The President

E. BUSCH

(1)  

OJ L 210, 19.7.1982, p. 11

.

(2)  Council Decision 82/461/EEC of 24 June 1982 on the conclusion of the Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals (

OJ L 210, 19.7.1982, p. 10

).