MEPs fast-track vote to downgrade wolves’ EU protection status

Brussels – This morning (May 6), the European Parliament voted by a show of hands to accelerate work on the bill, allowing a targeted amendment to the Habitats Directive. The amendment would bring the protection status of wolves in the EU in line with the Bern Convention, downgrading it from “strictly protected” to “protected.” Members will vote on the content of the proposal on Thursday.

The EU Council of Ministers approved the Commission’s proposal without amendments. If MEPs approve the text on Thursday, the Council will only need to formally approve the draft regulation for it to enter into force.

According to the Commission, over 20,000 wolves live in Europe, and their population and distribution range are both growing. However, this conservation success has led to increasing conflicts with human activities in some regions, particularly livestock.

“Downgrading the wolf’s protection status is an unforgivable mistake,” said Valentina Palmisano, head of the Movimento 5 Stelle delegation in the European Parliament, in a statement. “Currently, the wolf is protected by strict protective measures outlined in the Habitat Directive. We believe there is no scientific basis for this downgrade proposal and that it could jeopardize the species’ recovery process,” she added. For this reason, “we have co-signed an amendment to reject this proposal and another to ensure that any potential declassification can only occur once the wolf has reached a favorable conservation status in all biogeographical regions and all member states,” the MEP said.