The Belgian EU Presidency has drafted a steering note ahead of a Council working group tomorrow to discuss the protection status of wolves in the EU, expressing legal and other doubts about the European Commission’s proposal.
As previously reported, the Council’s working party on international environment issues (WPIEI) met last February to discuss the Commission proposal to downgrade the protection of wolves in the EU. In the proposal, published last December, the Commission proposed to lower the protection level of wolves in the EU, claiming that their increasing numbers pose a danger, particularly to livestock.
The proposal followed a data collection analysis last September and was based on an in-depth analysis by a consultancy firm. Commission President von der Leyen reportedly pushed for the proposal. However, the EU member states were divided on the proposal. Concerns were raised about the scientific data and lack of evidence pointing to a favorable conservation status in the EU.
In fact, the Council had adopted a Decision in November 2022 to oppose a similar proposal from Switzerland which had been discussed by the Bern Convention Standing Committee.
In view of the new Commission proposal, the Belgian EU Presidency wants to evaluate the proposal from a legal point of view and avoid any negative consequences for the EU as a Party to multilateral environmental agreements and to its credibility as a negotiation partner in international fora regarding the conservation of species.
The Commission seems also to have second thoughts. Despite the previous in-depth study, it commissioned a new study aiming at proposing a method for assessing the conservation status of large carnivores and to quantify the reference values for defining a favourable status. This report is due in July 2024.
The EU treaty (article 191 TFEU) requires the best available scientific knowledge, determined with due care and taking into account the precautionary principle. In its steering note, the Belgian EU Presidency asked the member states a number of questions that are relevant for a future decision. Among others, they were asked to assess the scientific basis used by the Commission for its proposal.
M. Apelblat
The Brussels Times
