Environmentalists have described as “shameful” the closed-door agreement in which all but two EU governments agreed to the European Commission’s proposal to reduce wolf protection in Europe.
The European Union (EU) has taken another step towards legalizing the routine slaughter or hunting of wolves. Member States today agreed on a proposal to amend an international convention. wildlife conservation. A measure criticized by environmental groups.
EU diplomats agreed behind closed doors to vote in favor of tabling a motion to reduce the status of wolves in the 1979 Berne Convention on the Protection of Wildlife and the Natural Environment in Europe. Presented by the European Commission last December.
A measure pioneered by Germany
The tipping of the balance in favor of Community Management’s position appears to be largely due to the following reasons: Germany’s strongest voice According to the weighted voting system used in the EU Council.
Ministers will meet on September 26 official vote on the measure. Only Ireland and Spain are considering voting against it, while some smaller member states plan to abstain, according to diplomatic sources.
According to the proposal, the situation of the wolf will be as follows: from “strictly protected” to “protected”Under the Berne Convention. This would allow the EU to amend the Habitats Directive to make species protection more flexible. According to current regulations, wolves can only be killed with certain permits.
Environmentalists condemn the decision…
“Both the EU and the German government further undermine democracy Nature Restoration expert Sophie Ruysschaert said “the harmony and cohesion of Europe by heeding populist fear-mongering campaigns and abandoning facts and pragmatic solutions”. BirdLife Europe.
On behalf of Sabien Leemans, head of Biodiversity Policy at the European Biodiversity Policy Office WWFThis measure sends “a disastrous and shameful signal from Europe” less than a month before world leaders meet in Colombia for a conference of the parties (COP16) UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
“How can we ask for it from other regions? protect their biodiversity “Can we co-exist with species such as tigers, lions or elephants while we cannot co-exist with wolves?” Leemans asked.
…while the European right congratulates him
On the contrary, the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) welcomed a decision attributed to it. “Persistent pressure for years” The largest group in the European Parliament.
Member of the European Parliament Herbert Dorfmann, Head of Agricultural Policy at the EPP, said: “This is a major advance in countering the sharp increase in wolf populations. Posing a growing threat to livestockTourism and rural communities across Europe”.
Peter Liese, who chairs the EPP delegation to the parliamentary environment committee, echoed Dorfmann’s comments, saying: “People increase in wolf population in Europe”.
Reactions in Brussels
The European Commission welcomed the interim agreement and underlined that EU Member States will be obliged to “maintain an appropriate state of protection for species even after state change.
“We have also made it very clear that when it comes to any change in EU law, what we are talking about is wolves and wolves. only from the wolf“a spokesman told reporters.
Copa-Cogeca, the most powerful traditional farming lobby group in Brussels, also welcomed the move. “EU institutions They listen to farmers’ needs “and those living in rural areas often do not have to face the consequences of attacks, despite countless pressures,” he said.
after that ministerial approvalEU proposal will be presented at the Standing Committee meeting Bern ConventionIt is planned to be held in early December.
