the article links to http://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/1/2016/EN/1-2016... which says on page 7

  Clarification needs to be made as to 
  the scope of the proposal 
  -
  the call 
  for a general closure of domestic 
  ivory markets does not seem 
  justified but the EU could show 
  openness to initiatives aiming to 
  restrict domestic ivory trade, 
  provided that the measures are 
  proportionate (for example call for 
  closure of domestic market except 
  for pre-Convention ivory 
  or in cases where there have been 
  evidences that domestic legal 
  markets have been used as a cover 
  for illegal ivory trade).

and on page 13

  Oppose the transfer to Appendix I
  of the populations of BW, NA, ZA, 
  ZW. These four national 
  populations have an increasing 
  population trend (tbc for Zimbabwe)
  and do not meet the 
  criteria for transfer to Appendix I. 
  Recognizing the efforts made by 
  Southern African countries to 
  sustainably manage their elephant 
  population and combat poaching, 
  those countries should better be 
  encouraged to pursue their efforts.