Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001944/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left)
The European Commission’s recent proposal to lower the level of protection for wolves is a threat to the still pending achievement of the wolf recovery objective, as set out in both the Bern Convention and the Habitats Directive. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, six out of nine transboundary wolf populations in the EU are ‘vulnerable’ or ‘near threatened’. Reducing their level of protection at this point would compromise the objective of achieving viable and stable wolf populations.
In addition to the fact that the proposal to lower protection has no scientific basis, the Commission itself confirmed in its analysis that hunting does not reduce predation on domestic livestock.
In light of the above:
- 1.How does the Commission assess the risk posed to the future of the wolf by reducing the level of protection accorded to the species?
- 2.How will the Commission ensure that wolves cannot be hunted in countries where they are not in a favourable conservation status?
- 3.How will the Commission ensure that any future changes to species included in the Habitats Directive will be based on science and not on political interests?
Submitted: 3.10.2024