“Today, European wolves have been downgraded. Today, nature conservation in Europe is degraded,” stated the Fund in a statement.
The European Parliament today approved, with 371 votes in favor, 162 against, and 37 abstentions, the reduction of the wolf’s status from “highly protected” to “protected” within the EU.
The new status, which had already received the green light from the EU Council, with members representing the States, and was put forth by the Commission, allows for the management of the wolf population, including hunting.
The vote today, as noted in the statement, was preceded by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) report, which advised against reducing the protection of wolves in Europe, advocating instead for prevention measures, education, awareness, and social mediation.
The report argued that scientific data show the systematic elimination of animals does not reduce conflicts with livestock unless carried out at unsustainable and illegal levels, recommending preventative measures such as fences, dogs, shepherds, or swift compensation for those affected.
The EESC also called for intensified surveillance protocols against poaching and illegal practices, among other measures.
“All this risks being wasted following today’s vote,” the Fund stated, announcing it will contact European environmental groups to consider potential legal actions after the “regrettable decision.”
In late April, the government of Asturias issued a resolution approving the annual plan to cull 53 wolves, prompting the Fund to announce it would initiate all legal and administrative actions to prevent it from happening.
The Fund had also already contested the government resolution in Cantabria, which approved the cull of 41 wolves.
The European Parliament’s vote was also criticized by European environmental organizations, which noted in a statement today that the issue began in September 2023 when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen advocated for the reduction of the species’ protection following the death of her pony, Dolly, allegedly due to a wolf attack.
In December 2023, the European Commission proposed reducing the protection of the species under the Bern Convention. Only a year earlier, the EU had rejected the same proposal due to a lack of scientific basis.
