The European Commission has proposed amendments to the Habitats Directive that would change the protection status of the wolf (Canis lupus⟧) from strictly protected to protected. This follows a number of legislative steps, including a decision by the Council of Europe in September 2024 and the adoption of amendments to the Bern Convention in December 2024.

The Commission's proposal marks a significant turning point in European wildlife and plant protection policy, responding to long-standing demands from member states and to several European Parliament resolutions. Under the amendment, the wolf would be moved from Annex IV of the Habitats Directive (strict protection) to Annex V (protected, but with flexible management).

A more flexible approach to wolf protection and species management

The planned changes would classify the wolf as a species to which management measures may be applied throughout the European Union. At the same time, member states would be free to keep the wolf as a strictly protected species at national level if they wish to do so.

The European Commission stresses that the obligations to conserve the species remain unchanged, but the new classification will allow member states to draw up tailored protection and management plans in order to balance wolf conservation against the challenges of coexistence.

FACE President Laurens Hoedemaker (Laurens Hoedemaker) has welcomed the Commission's move:

"Putting the proposal into practice will provide a more flexible and pragmatic approach to wolf management in Europe, allowing member states to address local problems more effectively. Importantly, this step will ease serious bureaucratic and legal conflicts in some member states."

With the above proposal, the European Commission has launched the legislative process to formally amend the Habitats Directive. Member states will be responsible for implementing management plans in line with EU conservation objectives. Under Annex V, member states must continue to monitor wolf populations and carry out a range of appropriate management measures.

An analysis carried out by the European Commission in December 2023 highlighted that the wolf population in Europe has almost doubled over the past ten years. The growth in the population has brought a corresponding increase in interactions between wolves and people, particularly in rural areas.

https://www.face.eu/2025/03/european-commission-proposes-downlisting-of-wolf-at-eu-level/