16 Apr 2025 Green light from the Council: Another positive step forward towards downlisting the wolf
Today, Member States’ representatives (Coreper) approved the Council’s mandate to revise the wolf’s protection status at EU level, aligning with the updated Bern Convention. The proposal includes a targeted amendment to the Habitats Directive, changing the status of wolves from ‘strictly protected’ to ‘protected’.
The goal is to give Member States more flexibility in managing wolf populations, supporting coexistence and addressing socio-economic impacts.
The Council’s position matches the Commission’s original proposal. The European Parliament is expected to adopt its position in May 2025. If aligned, the directive will be formally adopted and Member States will have 18 months to implement the revised protected status in their legislation. However, stricter national measures remain possible.
Wolf numbers have nearly doubled in the past decade, from 11,193 in 2012 to 20,300 in 2023. This growth has increased conflicts with human activities, and the ability to manage wolves became increasingly complex under Annex IV.
Laurens Hoedemaker, President of FACE, welcomed today’s move:
This new approach will ensure a more flexible and pragmatic approach to wolf management in Europe, enabling Member States to better address local challenges. Importantly, some heavy bureaucratic and legal conflicts in some Member States will be reduced when the wolf is listed in Annex V``.