On Wednesday 15 May, EU Member States were divided over the European Commission’s proposal to adapt the wolf’s protection status under the international Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats.
On 20 December 2023, the Commission had proposed that the wolf should from now on be classified as a ‘protected’ species rather than a ‘strictly protected’ species (see EUROPE 13335/11).
However, during a debate on this proposal in the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States to the EU (Coreper), it became clear that there was not yet a qualified majority within the EU Council in favour of amending the wolf’s protection status.
Some Member States (France, Finland, Italy, Austria, Romania, Slovakia, etc.) supported the proposal (some of them stressing the need to modify the conservation status of bears). Several Member States not directly concerned showed flexibility in finding a solution, while others stressed that additional scientific data was needed and that it was necessary to wait for the next reports from the Member States, which will be prepared in 2025, in accordance with Article 17 of the Habitats Directive.
Several delegations wanted the EU Council debate to remain at the level of the International Environment Working Group (no consensus on the creation of an ad hoc working group). The working group has already discussed this proposal at its meetings on 26 February and 4 April. Discussions focused on the scientific and legal processes underlying the proposal. The Member States also shared information on national practices that could be useful in assessing the Commission’s proposal.
“Coreper will return to the subject in due course, but work is continuing and we hope to have a clear position before the end of the year”, an EU diplomatic source told Agence Europe. The dossier will be dealt with at working group level, taking account of the real and urgent problems expressed by the Member States directly concerned. Coreper will provide an update on the work of the EU Council working group. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)