Ursula von der Leyen: return of wolf packs to EU regions “a real danger for livestock and potentially also for humans”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says this especially so where measures to prevent attacks on livestock are not widely implemented:

Ursula von der Leyen

“The concentration of wolf packs in some European regions has become a real danger for livestock and potentially also for humans.

I urge local and national authorities to take action where necessary. Indeed, current EU legislation already enables them to do so.”

The Commission is launching a new phase in its work on addressing the challenges related to the return of wolves, and is now inviting local communities, scientists and all interested parties to submit up-to-date data by 22 September on wolf population and their impacts.

On the basis of the data collected, the Commission will decide on a proposal to modify, where appropriate, the status of protection of the wolf within the EU and to update the legal framework, to introduce, where necessary, further flexibility, in the light of the evolution of this species.

This will complement current possibilities under the EU legislation for local and national authorities to take action where necessary, “and significant EU funding provided for these measures.”

Some measures have proven effective in preventing or significantly reducing predation risks when properly implemented and tailored to the specific context in which they are applied.

The Commission’s review of scientific data on the wolf in the EU forms an integral part of the in-depth analysis the Commission is conducting in response to a EU parliament resolution.

In April 2023, the Commission started collecting data from expert groups and key stakeholders, as well as the data reported by national authorities under the existing EU and international legislation.

However, this data still does not provide a full picture sufficient for the Commission to design further actions and the Commission is broadening this consultation.

The Commission is aware that the return of the wolf to EU regions where it has been absent for a long time may lead to conflicts with local farming and hunting communities, especially where measures to prevent attacks on livestock are not widely implemented.

As a native species, the wolf is an integral element of Europe’s natural heritage and plays an important role in its ecosystems.

Image: By [2] – [1], CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56247552