Strict protection. The associated problems

Under the current legal framework (Appendix II of the Bern Convention and Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive), wolves are strictly protected. This situation has significantly limited the ability of member states to adapt species management practices to the ever-increasing wolf population, which consequently causes not only administrative and legal problems. The restrictions have not only burdened member states legally, they have also affected local wolves, often to their detriment.

The essence of the proposal

Solidarity and choice: Member states are under no obligation to change the protection status of the wolf. However, for countries where wolves have a favourable conservation status and which are interested in changing it, the opportunity is created to change this protection status in the future.

Balance: The aim is to achieve a balance between conservation and practical species management, facilitating and simplifying the resolution of conflicts in rural areas without compromising species conservation targets.

Considerations on protection status: Despite the continuous growth of the population, this does not automatically imply a favourable conservation status, as the species' habitat and threats must also be taken into account. In short, as the wolf population in Europe increases, it is possible to better and more fully assess favourable and unfavourable conservation status.

The objective of the European Commission's initiative is to modernise wolf management across the entire EU territory by offering a balanced approach that respects existing species conservation targets while addressing practical coexistence issues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqg4hTSRIDs

https://www.face.eu/2024/02/understanding-the-wolf-proposal-a-new-tool-for-conservation/