EU Commissioner Karmenu Vella visits Kenya on the occasion of UNEA 2 and acknowledges Kenya's efforts at Wildlife Protection

The European Union Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, who is visiting Kenya from 25th-27 May 2016 to participate in the second session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 2) today visited the Ivory Burning site at the Nairobi National Park, where he met Dr Richard Leakey, Chairman of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

Commissioner Vella said the European Union supports efforts and initiatives aimed at protecting wildlife, echoing his statement from 30 April 2016 when Kenya burned its stockpile of Ivory "The on-going slaughter of elephants throughout Africa must end. In this regard, we welcome the leadership taken by Kenya and by President Uhuru Kenyatta with these initiatives in favour of wildlife conservation."

During his 3-day visit, Commissioner Vella will hold bilateral talks with his Kenyan counterpart, Cabinet Secretary Prof. Judi Wakhungu, of the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Regional Development Authorities.

The European Union recently launched an EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking, an ambitious blueprint that aims to reduce the trafficked wildlife that enters the EU. The plan aims at greater enforcement, better cooperation, and more effective prevention on Wildlife Trafficking. The EU aims to use all its diplomatic, trade and development cooperation tools to the full to keep the issue on the global agenda.

Europe has provided more than EUR 500 million for wildlife conservation in Africa over the past 30 years. The EU remains a committed partner to the conservation efforts and the sustainable use of biodiversity on the African continent.

The EU is Kenya's largest source market for tourists who also frequent KWS parks