It’s a personal victory for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who campaigned to get this proposal through EU governments, and whose pet pony Dolly was killed by a wolf in 2022.
Countries that supported the proposal included Andorra, Armenia, Georgia, Iceland, Norway, North Macedonia, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Serbia, Switzerland and Ukraine, along with all 27 EU members.
The United Kingdom rejected it, as did Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Monaco and Albania, while Tunisia and Turkey abstained, according to two people in the room.
“The change will enter into force in three months, unless at least one third of the Parties to the Council of Europe’s Bern Convention (17) object,” the press release stated.
Von der Leyen welcomed the outcome, saying it was “important news for our rural communities and farmers” and represented “a balanced approach between the preservation of wildlife and the protection of our livelihoods.”
Hunters also cheered the decision. “[T]his presents an opportunity for the Habitats Directive to accommodate this conservation success. There are still some legal hurdles, but they are now achievable,” said Laurens Hoedemaker, president of the European Hunters Federation.
