The project, entitled "Implementing the Environmental Acquis in the Protection of Wild Species by Regulating Trade", is aimed at helping Croatia adjust its legislation on international trade in endangered animals and plants to EU standards, Assistant Culture Minister Zoran Sikic said.
Sikic said an important role in controlling trade in wild species was played by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which took effect on 1 July 1975 and has been signed by 173 countries since.
Sikic said that Croatia had successfully implemented the first stage of the project and created conditions for the analysis of the existing legislation, publication of CITES handbooks, upgrading of the CITES database and a campaign to raise public awareness of problems related to uncontrolled trade in endangered species.
Robbert Brouwer, the Dutch head of the project, expressed satisfaction with cooperation with Croatian experts.