Less protection soon?

Carinthian wolf visits the European Union

The members of the Committee of the Regions in Brussels voted on whether there should soon be less protection for wolves.

(Bild: Clara Milena Steiner, Scharinger Daniel, Krone KREATIV)

The wolf is not only causing annoyed farmers and political debates in Carinthia - it is also a topic of discussion in Brussels, the headquarters of the EU. Not so much because the Belgian capital is haunted by the large carnivore, but more because there are discussions about how to deal with it.

It is exciting to see how such a discussion takes place in the Committee of the Regions (CoR): More than 300 politicians from around 200 regions of the European Union are sitting there in the large plenary chamber, at the front of the podium - next to two huge flags: EU and Ukraine - the Portuguese Vasco Alves Cordeiro, President of the CoR, chairs the debates and votes, calling for calm in between.

Everything is hectic, fast-paced and sometimes very loud; photographers and camera teams scurry through the rows of seats, everyone speaks their own language, a whole host of interpreters translate the members' contributions. And it's all about very different things - for example child protection (we have reported on this) or new EU member states, of course the European elections and, yes indeed, the wolf.

LH Kaiser and the President of the Committee of the Regions, Vasco Alves Cordeiro

(Bild: zVg)

The Austrian delegation, including Kaiser, spoke out in favor of lowering the protection status of the wolf.

(Bild: Illias Teirlinck)

More specifically: the protection of biodiversity and coexistence with large carnivores in Europe and the challenges and opportunities for local and regional authorities.

"I take fears very seriously"
The politicians - including, incidentally, those who know from their own experience the problems that wolves can cause, such as Governor Peter Kaiser (SPÖ) and Vorarlberg's Governor Markus Wallner (ÖVP) - agree that the animal helps to maintain a healthy ecosystem, but that the safety of people and agriculture is paramount.

"The wolf is causing more and more damage and increasing uncertainty here and in other federal states and regions. I take these concerns and fears of people very seriously," emphasized Kaiser on the sidelines of the CoR meeting, adding: "I expect the same from representatives of EU institutions and others. And I also made this clear in the talks in Brussels."

According to Kaiser, the protection status of the wolf needs to be reassessed and handled more flexibly - after all, the population has also changed since this status was granted and the Habitats Directive was enacted. It is no secret that more and more wolves have settled and multiplied in Europe in recent years - the EU Commission therefore also recommends lowering the protection status of the wolf from "strictly protected".

What is the Committee of the Regions?

• The CoR is an advisory body in the legislative process of the European Union.
• It consists of more than 300 representatives of regional and local authorities, with a total of around 200 regions from all over Europe represented.
• Austria has twelve members: one member from each federal state and three members nominated by the Association of Towns and Municipalities. Carinthia is represented in the CoR by Governor Peter Kaiser.
• The CoR meets five times a year in plenary session, and the individual commissions also meet five times a year. Each member sits on one or two commissions.

Of fences and conflicts
The vote in the CoR was similar: The protection status of certain species, for example that of the wolf, should be regularly reassessed. And the costs of preventing damage or compensating for damage should be borne entirely by the EU. This motion, which was supported by the Austrian delegation at the current meeting, was adopted unanimously!

Wallner is certain that this "could help to avoid or reduce conflicts between humans and large carnivores". He suggests: "The measures could include, for example, providing secure fences for grazing animals or compensating farmers for losses caused by predators. Compensation should also cover indirect economic impacts."