A proposal to downgrade the status of wolves from “strictly protected” to “protected” has been approved by the standing committee of the Bern Convention, which governs the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats.

The change will enter into force from 7 March 2025, after which the EU will be able to adapt the corresponding annexes of the Habitats Directive. The Commission will propose a targeted legislative amendment to this effect, which will need to be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council.

The downgraded status will give additional flexibility to member states in managing their local wolf populations. At the same time, as the wolf will remain a protected species, member states’ conservation and management measures will still need to achieve and maintain favourable conservation status.

Investments in appropriate damage prevention measures remain essential to reduce livestock predation. The Commission says it will continue to help member states and stakeholders in the design and implementation of such measures through funding and other forms of support.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said said the move was “important” for rural communities and farmers and strikes “a balanced approach between the preservation of wildlife and the protection of our livelihoods”.

Jessika Roswall, commissioner for environment, water resilience and a competitive circular economy, said: “EU’s conservation policy and efforts towards the wolf have been a success in the past decades.

“The reality on the ground, however, is changing. Ever increasing wolf populations and the risk that this poses has justified to adapt the legal protection status of the wolf.

“Today, the standing committee of the Bern Convention voted in favour of the EU proposal to change the protection status of the wolf from ‘strictly protected’ to ‘protected’. As a next step, we will propose to update EU’s rules in line with this decision.”