"It is the shared responsibility of EU member states to step up to the challenge and tackle this organised and destructive crime that is destabilising so many parts of the world,” said Bearder, a UK member of the ALDE group, in a statement. Read our interview with her here.

Wildlife trafficking reduces biodiversity, unbalances ecosystems and endangers the survival of numerous animal species such as tiger and sharks and plant species such as tropical timber and orchids.

In recent years wildlife trafficking has reached unprecedented levels due to the increase in global demand for wildlife and related products.