The EU’s proposal to reduce the protection status of the wolf in Europe will be examined by the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention of the Council of Europe on Tuesday 3 December.
On Thursday 26 September, the Council of Ministers of the European Union adopted a proposal to change the international status of the wolf in Europe from “strictly protected” to “protected” (see EUROPE 13491/8). By this measure the EU would hope to have greater latitude to protect its livestock from wolves, while guaranteeing protection for the latter.
A two-thirds majority (34) of the Contracting Parties to the Convention will be required to approve the EU’s proposal, bearing in mind that the EU has 27 votes, equivalent to the number of its Member States.
If less than a third of the parties objected to the text, the decision would enter into force after three months, but only for those “who have not formulated objections”, the Council of Europe said.
If the application under the Bern Convention is ratified, the EU will have to amend the relevant annexes to the Habitats Directive, which implements the Bern Convention in the EU. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)