MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Protection of seals and cormorants – E-002230/2024

Question for written answer  E-002230/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
César Luena (S&D)

Following the recent decision of the Council[1] to adopt the European Commission’s proposal to lower the protection status of wolves uner the Bern Convention, a number of Member States’ ministers for agriculture, notably from the Baltic and Scandinavian region, expressed concerns about the impact of cormorants and seals on fisheries and food security, calling for a relaxation of EU regulations limiting their control.

Against this background:

• 1.Does the Commission intend to propose additional amendments to the Bern Convention that would include reducing the protection of other species in addition to the wolf?
• 2.With regard to the Habitats Directive, does the Commission plan to review the protection status of key species currently covered by this legislation, such as wolves, seals and cormorants?
• 3.Given the impact of these potential reforms, what measures is the Commission considering to ensure that potential decisions related to the reduction of species protection continue to be based on sound technical and scientific evidence, as required by Article 19 of the Habitats Directive, and aligned with the EU’s commitments on biodiversity and sustainability?

Submitted: 23.10.2024

• [1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/es/press/press-releases/2024/09/26/bern-convention-eu-will-propose-changing-the-conservation-status-of-wolves/.