It was the final step before the change in status could take effect. On Thursday, May 8, the European Parliament voted in favor of lowering the protection level for wolves, allowing some of these animals to be hunted. For the first time since its adoption in 1992, the European "Habitats" directive, one of the fundamental texts for nature conservation, will be revised to change the status of an animal species from "strictly protected" to "protected."
This change, desired by many states, including France, sends a strong political signal from Brussels to a farming sector facing many challenges. It is strongly contested by nature protection organizations, which argue that this downgrade is not based on any scientific data and is not a solution to the problems encountered by farmers. The wolf, which was nearly eradicated from Western Europe in the mid-19th century, has made a remarkable comeback over the past two decades. Approximately 23,000 have been recorded in the European Union (EU), and 60,000 livestock animals (0.065% of the sheep population) are attacked each year.
"Member states will remain responsible for wolf management plans but will have more flexibility than today; I hope this will facilitate coexistence," said Herbert Dorfmann, an Italian MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), before the vote. "This vote also sets a dangerous precedent for EU policy making, showing how a baseless crusade can be framed as a bloc-wide priority," reacted a coalition of NGOs. The decision sets "a worrying trend that can reach far beyond the wolf."
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