On Thursday 8 May in Strasbourg, MEPs adopted by 371 votes to 162, with 37 abstentions, the decision to bring the ‘Habitats’ Directive into line with the amendment to the Bern Convention of 7 March (see EUROPE 13595/19), thereby changing the protection status of the wolf from “strictly protected” to “protected species”.
Member States will have greater flexibility in managing their wolf populations. The stated aim is to improve the coexistence of wolves with humans and reduce their impact on livestock farming.
The Parliament recalled that the Commission’s proposal “was made at [its] request”. Peter Liese (EPP, German) pointed out, on Wednesday 7 May, that the EPP “launched the debate in 2020”, before having “a majority in 2022”. He said that Germany would “apply this legislation immediately”.
According to Esther Herranz García (EPP, Spanish), the revision of the Habitats Directive will establish “a balance between the protection of wolves and the protection of rural communities”.
“We are not questioning the need to protect the wolf”, said Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe, French). In his view, the adaptation of the management rules has taken into account “the positive trend of the population”, which has doubled in 20 years to reach almost 20,000 wolves in Europe.
Pascal Canfin welcomed “the fact that the EPP remained with the central majority and did not try to reopen the protection status of other species such as the bear”. The day before, on Wednesday 7 May, Peter Liese acknowledged that “similar initiatives” could be envisaged, “but not right now”.
Member States will have 18 months to comply with the Directive. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)