Today, member states’ representatives (Coreper) endorsed the Council’s mandate to review the wolf protection status at EU level, in line with the updated Bern Convention. The proposal includes a targeted amendment to the Habitats Directive, whereby the status of the wolf is adjusted from ‘strictly protected’ to ‘protected’. The aim is to give member states more flexibility in the management of wolf populations, to promote coexistence and address socio-economic consequences.
The Council’s position is in line with the European Commission’s original proposal. The European Parliament is expected to adopt its position in May 2025. If both positions are aligned, the Directive will be formally adopted and Member States will have 18 months to incorporate the revised protection status into their national legislation. However, stricter national measures remain possible.
The number of wolves has almost doubled in the past ten years: from 11,193 in 2012 to 20,300 in 2023. This increase has led to more conflicts with human activities, and management has become increasingly complex under the provisions of Annex IV.
Laurens Hoedemaker, President of FACE, welcomed the decision: “This new approach provides a more flexible and pragmatic way of addressing wolf management in Europe, allowing Member States to better respond to local challenges. Importantly, some serious administrative and legal conflicts in certain Member States will decrease when the wolf is included in Appendix V.”
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