EP changed wolf protection status from « firmly protected » to « protected » / day
Parliament, with 371 votes against 162 and 37 Members, abstained from the European Commission’s (EC) proposal to amend the Habit Directive to coordinate the EU wolf’s defense status with the Berne Convention. The EC proposal to amend the wolf protection status in the EU came up with the EP request.
Member States now will have greater flexibility in the management of the wolf population to improve the coexistence of these predators with humans and to reduce the impact of the increasing number of wolves in the EU. It is also planned that they will also be able to make better decisions tailored to the situation in the region.
Member States will need to continue to provide wolf protection and will continue to be included in national law as a strictly protected species and to apply stricter protection measures.
In order for the bill to enter into force, it must now be officially approved by the EU Council, which supported the same text on April 16, 2025. The Directive will enter into force 20 days after publication in the EU Official Journal and Member States will have 18 months to implement it.
According to the EC, there are more than 20,000 wolves in Europe and their population and populated are expanding. However, this protection success has led to increasing conflicts with human activities in some regions, in particular livestock, the EC points out.
