At the Agriculture/Fisheries Council on Tuesday 23 September, Sweden, supported by several other countries, called for coordinated measures at EU level to limit pan-European cormorant populations (see EUROPE 13712/6).
As a first step, the country proposes that the cormorant be listed in Annex 2 of the Birds Directive, which would ensure sustainable and regulated hunting as part of wider population management strategies.
France has indicated that the “positive and negative” impacts on the cormorant should be examined with regards to the possible inclusion of this species in Annex 2 of the Birds Directive on huntable species “before any steps are taken in this direction”.
Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for the Environment, has admitted that, in several Member States, the derogation system represents “a heavy administrative burden” and is not sufficient to respond to local pressures. She has undertaken to present an updated document to help Member States make use of the derogations (Annex dedicated to the cormorant). She acknowledged that listing this species on Annex 2 would require a reopening of the legislation, which is a long process. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)