The author of the article is Patryk Strzałkowski, a journalist for Gazeta.pl.
The vote took place on Wednesday during a meeting of the ambassadors from the 27 EU member states (known as COREPER). The majority's agreement suggests that the initiative to weaken wolf protection is likely to be formally endorsed at Thursday’s meeting of ministers from the respective countries.
Not long ago, opinions on wolf protection were divided, and the proposal to weaken their status - introduced by the European Commission - did not have majority support. Poland was among the countries that had abstained. Earlier this week, news surfaced that the initiative would go to a vote, with countries being lobbied to support it. Poland eventually voted in favor of reducing the protection status of wolves.
According to euractiv.com, Germany, Luxembourg, and Portugal also changed their stance. Media reports indicate that Ireland and Spain opposed the initiative.
This change comes despite strong public support for wolf protection. A survey commissioned by the European Commission in December 2023 showed that 71% of more than 18,500 respondents supported maintaining the current legal status of wolves in the EU. In Poland, this figure was as high as 90%. Over 300 NGOs have called for strengthening, not weakening, the protection of this species.
Commission: No More Strict Wolf Protection
For decades, some European countries have made efforts to restore decimated wolf populations, with varying degrees of success. In Poland, the number of wolves increased from around 500 in 2001 to 2,000 in 2019, largely due to strict protection measures for the species.
Last year, the European Commission proposed changing the wolf’s status under the Bern Convention, which deals with the joint European protection of endangered species. The EC wants to move wolves from the category of strictly protected species to protected species. This formal change could, in practice, lead to weakened protection of wolves and open the door for more countries to allow greater wolf culling.
"Prime Minister Donald Tusk has once again shown that he values political loyalty to his European party more than staying true to his election promises. The proposal to weaken wolf protection is a baseless political stunt aimed at garnering support for the European People’s Party from conservative voters," said Radosław Ślusarczyk from the Pracownia na Rzecz Wszystkich Istot Association.
If wolf protection is weakened under the Bern Convention, it could lead to changes in the EU’s Habitats Directive, which would then allow countries to increase wolf culling. Changing the law will take time and further votes, but the support of the majority of EU countries, the European Commission, and the largest party in Brussels signals that this is a real possibility.
Farmers and von der Leyen’s Pony
The main groups advocating for the reduction of wolf protection are agricultural organizations, which raise concerns about wolves’ impact on livestock. Hunters in some countries also wish to have more opportunities to hunt wolves.
Environmental organizations accuse the European People’s Party of ignoring expert advice and other solutions for managing human-wolf conflicts in order to win votes from these groups. The EPP includes Poland's Civic Platform (PO) and the Polish People’s Party (PSL), as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Von der Leyen stated last year that the return of wolves was "good news for biodiversity in Europe." However, she also noted that the concentration of wolves in certain regions of Europe had become a real threat, especially to livestock. Reducing wolf protection is aimed at allowing "more flexibility" in managing wolf populations.
Some critics claim that von der Leyen only became interested in the wolf population issue after an incident involving her pony. In September 2022, a wolf killed her pony Dolly on a pasture near her residence in Beinhorn, Lower Saxony.
Wolves are Crucial to Ecosystems
Conservationists argue that conflicts with wolves can be resolved in ways other than by culling their populations. Better fencing and shepherd dogs are just some solutions, especially since the scale of livestock losses caused by wolves is minimal—accounting for only a fraction of a percent. They also point out that wolf culling can sometimes have the opposite effect, as wolf packs deprived of strong individuals might seek easier prey in farms rather than hunting wild animals.
"According to the latest scientific analyses, wolf populations in the EU are in an unsatisfactory or poor conservation status in six out of seven biogeographical regions. Moreover, available research indicates that reducing wolf populations does not resolve conflicts between wolves and farmers. Preventive measures such as fences and guard dogs, along with adequate and timely compensation, are much more effective," said Rafał Rzepkowski from WWF Poland.
Wolves are important for the health of entire ecosystems. As predators, they naturally "control" the populations of other animals. By hunting deer and roe deer, wolves help limit agricultural losses caused by these animals. Fewer wolves might also lead hunters to justify shooting more of these species. Wolves positively influence biodiversity.
The EU decision has global implications. In a few weeks, an international summit on global biodiversity protection will take place. Lowering wolf protection sends a "disastrous" signal ahead of the summit, according to Sabien Leemans from WWF. "How can we demand other countries protect animals such as lions, tigers, and elephants when we can’t live alongside wolves?" she asked rhetorically, adding that this is a "disgrace" for Europe, which often lectures other countries on nature conservation.
