Habitats Directive: protection status of the wolf (Canis lupus)

The European Parliament adopted, by 371 votes to 162, with 37 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 92/43/EEC as regards the protection status of the wolf (Canis lupus).

Parliament supported at first reading the Commission's proposal to amend the Habitats Directive to align the European protection status of the wolf with the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, changing it from ‘strictly protected’ to ‘protected’.

Notwithstanding the amendment introduced by this Directive, Member States remain free to maintain the protection status of the wolf at the level of protection granted to strictly protected fauna species.