On Tuesday 6 May, MEPs voted by a show of hands to use the urgency procedure to change the European protection status of wolves – by revising the Habitats Directive – from “strictly protected” to “protected”. The amendment to the Habitats Directive will be put to the vote in the Chamber on Thursday 8 May.
The aim is to bring the wolf’s protection status under European legislation (Annexes IV and V of the Habitats Directive) in line with the Bern Convention as amended in December 2024 (see EUROPE 13537/15).
The European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment has opted for an urgency procedure in order to avoid a complete reopening of the Habitats Directive (see EUROPE 13603/18). By voting in favour of this urgency procedure, the EPP, Renew Europe and the S&D have undertaken “to limit ourselves to this one and only amendment”, declared Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe, French). He felt that the success of wolf protection – whose population is increasing – made it “legitimate” to change the rules.
This measure is “demagogic”, according to Emma Fourreau (The Left, French), who pointed out that “wolves can already be shot” on Tuesday 6 May. Like The Left, the Greens/EFA will vote against the amendment to the Habitats Directive. “We will be submitting an amendment totally rejecting any reduction in protection for the wolf”, warned Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA, Luxembourgian). She pointed out that the wolf was “crucial for maintaining biodiversity”, but also for “preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases, including Lyme disease”. MEPs have until 1pm on Wednesday 7 May to submit amendments on the content. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)