The CITES Conference will be held in September 2016, and currently, the European Commission is not agreeing to enforce the African Elephant Action Plan, which urges all populations of African Elephants to be classed as an Appendix I species.

The CITES Conference will review the status of species in terms of their protection under legislation.
Only some populations of African Elephants are covered under Appendix I (having the highest protection possible), with the rest being covered by Appendix II.
The European Commission are not planning to support the move for all African Elephants to be protected by Appendix I, which must be changed.

http://ens-newswire.com/2016/07/04/29-african-nations-urge-eu-to-halt-elephant-slaughter/

By being protected under the CITES Appendix I, this will help to lower the staggering rates of elephant poaching, as well as the illegal ivory trade which is currently threatening elephants with extinction.