
Article 1 
The accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.
The text of the Convention is attached to this Decision.
Article 2 
The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person empowered to deposit, on behalf of the Union, the instrument of accession provided for in Article XXI (1) of the Convention, in order to express the consent of the Union to be bound by the Convention. At the time of deposit of the instrument of accession, the designated person shall deposit the declaration set out in the Annex to this Decision, in accordance with Article XXI (3) of the Convention.
Article 3 
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 6 March 2015.
For the Council
The President
K. GERHARDS
ANNEX

The European Union declares that, in accordance with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 192(1) thereof, it is competent for entering into international agreements, and for implementing the obligations resulting therefrom, which contribute to the pursuit of the following objectives:

— preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment;
— protecting human health;
— prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources;
— promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems, including climate change.
The European Union declares that it has already adopted legal instruments, binding on its Member States, covering matters governed by this Convention, in particular but not limited to Regulation (EC) No 338/97 and the implementing Regulation (EC) No 865/2006.
Moreover the European Union declares that it is responsible for the performance of those obligations resulting from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora which are covered by European Union legislation in force.
The exercise of European Union competence is, by its nature, subject to continuous development.
