EU AFFIRMS COMMITMENT AGAINST WHALING BUT GOVERNMENTS NEED TO ACT

9.27.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 8th Oct 2007

A Liberal Democrat Euro MP has welcomed an EU statement on action to protect whales, but claims that Member State governments need to coordinate more if the prospect of commercial whaling is to be avoided.

In the answer to a question tabled by Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas affirms the EU's commitment to the protection of whales and says that the Habitats Directive and Wildlife Trade Regulation guarantee this, whilst admitting a greater say could be had if the EU became a full member of the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

Liz Lynne, MEP for the West Midlands region, thinks a unified European voice would strengthen the cause of the conservationists within the IWC, and help to ensure that the possibility of a resumption of commercial whaling, brought closer by a 2006 IWC resolution, does not become reality.

Liz Lynne said:

"I am naturally pleased that the Commissioner has reaffirmed Europe's commitment to wildlife protection but the implications for whaling in particular highlight the need for greater cooperation.

"While the EU institutions are demonstrating a commitment to conservation, it is the national governments who are dragging their heels on giving the EU a strong unified voice on the protection of whales. This unified voice could have much more influence on wavering IWC members in any future vote on commercial whaling."

The 2006 IWC resolution in favour of a resumption of commercial whaling passed by a majority of one, with Denmark voting with pro-whaling countries such as Japan. This raises the issue as a serious possibility in the future, for the first time since the 1986 ban, although any vote on actual resumption of commercial whaling would require 75% of IWC members to be in favour.

Liz added:

"While the passing of the resolution was a huge reality check for conservationists, all EU countries apart from one voted against the 2006 IWC resolution, so most of us already agree on this issue. With more EU Member States having recently joined the IWC, the 'anti-whalers' are in majority again, but we cannot afford to be complacent.

"The UK and other governments must push for greater cooperation on whaling and other conservation issues. EU membership of the IWC would help achieve better protection of these endangered species."