EU: Commission proposes lowering wolf protection status in Europe

On 20 December 2023, the European Commission has proposed to downgrade the protection status of the wolf under the international Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats from “strictly protected” to “protected”. This would make it possible to authorise the hunting of wolves if this does not endanger the conservation of populations. The proposed move is criticised by nature conservation animal welfare organisations which called for herd protection to be improved instead. Changing the wolf's protection status within the framework of the Bern Convention requires the consensus of both EU Member States and other parties to the Bern Convention before any similar change to its status at the EU level can be made.