It is clear after a meeting at ambassadorial level in Brussels on Wednesday, where a proposal from the European Commission to lower the wolf’s status from “strongly protected” to “protected” was on the table.
The ambassadors of the EU countries give the proposal a thumbs up by giving the go-ahead to propose an amendment to the so-called Bern Convention on the protection of wild plants and animals.
A formal decision is expected from the EU Council of Ministers on Thursday.
More hunting
The decision will probably mean that it may be easier to get permission to hunt wolves in EU countries.
– This will make it easier to manage the wolf population, says Sweden’s Agriculture Minister Peter Kullgren to the TT news agency.
An amendment to the Berne Convention can, however, be carried out in December at the earliest. In addition, the EU’s directive on animal species and habitat must also be changed.
Lost pony
In 2023, there were breeding packs of wolves in 23 countries in the EU, with a total population estimated at around 20,300 animals.
The increase in the number of animals has also led to the initially shy wolf coming into contact with people more often.
In 2022, it made big headlines when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen lost her beloved pony Dolly in a wolf attack.
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2024-09-28 09:24:10
