European Parliament votes to downgrade wolf protection status

Brussels – As expected, with 371 votes in favor, 162 against, and 37 abstentions, Parliament supported the Commission’s proposal to amend the Habitats Directive to bring the protection status of wolves in the EU in line with the Bern Convention, downgrading it from “strictly protected” to “protected.” The Commission’s proposal to change the protection status of wolves in the EU came following a parliamentary request.

Member states will now have greater flexibility in managing wolf populations “to improve coexistence with humans and minimize the impact of a growing wolf population in the EU,” the Parliament explains. Governments can also take measures that are more appropriate to particular regional circumstances.

Member states must continue to ensure the favorable conservation status of the wolf. They may continue to include it on the list of strictly protected species in national legislation and apply more stringent measures for its protection.

To enter into force, the draft law must now be formally approved by the Council, which approved the same text on April 16, 2025. The directive will enter into force 20 days after publication in the EU Official Journal. Member states will then have 18 months to comply.

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