European Parliament changes protection status of wolves
The European Parliament has changed the EU's wolf protection status from 'strictly protected' to 'protected', to align it with the Bern Convention.
With 371 votes for, 162 against and 37 abstentions, the parliament supported the European Commission's proposal for a targeted change of the Habitats Directive.
The commission's proposal to alter the protection status of wolves in the EU came following a push from parliament for it.
Member states will now have greater flexibility in managing their wolf populations to improve coexistence with humans and to minimise the impact of a growing wolf population in the EU.
They will also be better able to take measures that are adapted to particular regional circumstances, according to the parliament.
Among those in the parliament who voted for the change in status are MEPs who are members of the European People's Party grouping, which includes Irish Fine Gael MEPs.
EPP group spokesman in the parliament's Agriculture Committee, Herbert Dorfmann MEP said: 'Farmers can now breathe a sigh of relief. We have listened to their concerns and delivered real change at the European level to address today's reality and protect rural livelihoods.
'The Habitats Directive has been a clear success, helping the wolf population recover from near extinction to over 20,000 individuals across the continent.
'But now it's time to adapt to today's reality. This means balancing our conservation efforts with protecting farmers,' Dorfmann added.
Protection status of wolves
Member states must continue to ensure the wolf's favourable conservation status and may continue to list the wolf as a strictly protected species in national legislation, and to have stricter measures in place for its protection.
The European Parliament agreed on Tuesday (May 6) to deal with the file under its urgent procedure, effectively 'fast-tracking' it.
To enter into force, the draft law now requires formal approval by the European Council, which endorsed the same text on April 16, 2025.
The directive will enter into force 20 days after it has been published in the EU Official Journal. Member states will then have 18 months to comply.
According to the commission, there are over 20,000 wolves in Europe, and their populations and ranges are growing.
This conservation success story has however led to increasing conflicts with human activities in some regions, in particular concerning livestock, it added.
Previously, president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen has said that the comeback of wolves is good news for biodiversity in Europe, but the concentration of wolf packs in some regions has become 'a real danger especially for livestock'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
The problem with Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein wanting to 'put manners' on media
Gerry Adams has always denied being a member of the IRA. There, that's that out of the way. These days it's good practice to get your disclaimer in early. Especially if you're in the journalism business. Anything else could be construed as bad manners. And 'manners' is what Gerry's €3 million libel battle with the BBC all boiled down to in his own words. The case he took in the Dublin High Court 'was about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation' he announced minutes after a jury awarded him €100,000 in damages. They had agreed that a Spotlight programme had defamed Gerry by alleging he sanctioned the murder of IRA spy Denis Donaldson in 2006, eight years after the Good Friday Agreement had sealed his place among the peacemakers. Gerry's grandiose reaction to the decision was described as 'chilling' by the National Union of Journalists. For a man who has dealt in secrets during a lifetime of politics, it was certainly candid. This was Gerry saying the quiet part out loud. Because as long as the press has been around, there have been those in political power who fantasise about 'putting manners' on it. Not least the many other members of Sinn Fein who have taken libel actions against the Irish media in recent times, as they are of course entitled to do. They would also be entitled to ask the Press Ombudsman to adjudicate their grievances instead. It's a process that exists to put manners on journalists without damages or the €3 million tab for lawyers' fees. Weeks before Gerry's big win at the High Court, Sinn Fein TDs also voted in the Dail against the reform of Ireland's defamation laws. Their biggest issue was getting rid of juries like the one that gave Gerry a hundred grand last week. They take the view that a group of lay citizens are best qualified to stand judgement on that most precious of things to the Irish – our reputation. Over the years juries have deemed it to be vastly more valuable in compensation terms than literally losing life or limb. Sinn Fein believes that people should be summoned from their day jobs as butchers, bakers and candlestick makers, and asked to rule on this wickedly complex area of civil law that divides and defies legal experts. And be relied upon to not lose the run of themselves when awarding damages. I've been in the high court before when juries were asked not to lose the run of themselves. When advised to use the yardstick of a family holiday or a small car to assess damages, they have returned with eye watering six-figures sums. That's quite the family vacation. But there is a bigger problem I have with Gerry's swagger at sticking it to the BBC and Sinn Fein's general animosity towards the media. 'Putting manners' on the press has become a dark obsession among others who view journalists as 'the enemy of the people'. And they are willing to use far less legitimate methods than a high court jury to do it. Last year was the deadliest on record for media workers around the world with over 200 reporters killed, the vast majority in Gaza where the press have become legitimate targets. In the world's biggest democracy, the American media is bearing the brunt of an authoritarian crackdown. Respected outlets are banned for refusing to report a warped view of reality sanctioned by the ruling regime. Handpicked lackies and sycophants are favoured to replace experienced reporters because they ask the right questions. Amnesty international this week named Northern Ireland – where Sinn Fein leads the Government - as one of the most intimidating places to be a reporter because of threats from crime gangs. Meanwhile hatemongers attack and intimidate journalists 24 hours a day in the unpoliced laneways of cyber space where they replace news and facts with their own disinformation and conspiracies. Against that climate, we need political leaders to choose their words and actions carefully when they have a beef with the media. Politicians whose first instinct is not to join in the 'let's put manners on them' pile-on. And who remember there are alternatives to multi-million libel lotteries before you march to the High Court behind the battle cry: Tiocfaidh ár Law!
The Journal
6 hours ago
- The Journal
At least five killed as Russia launches major attack on Ukraine
AT LEAST FIVE people have been killed after Russia unleashed a barrage of missiles, drones and bombs across Ukraine early this morning. Russian forces have accelerated attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks, with the Kremlin vowing to retaliate over a brazen attack on its air bases last weekend. The Ukrainian air force said Moscow had fired 206 drones and nine missiles, adding that 'the air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces'. In Kharkiv, Mayor Igor Terekhov counted 48 Iranian-made drones, two missiles and four guided bombs before dawn in the city of some 1.4 million residents located less than 50 kilometres from the Russian border in northeastern Ukraine. 'Kharkiv is currently experiencing the most powerful attack since the beginning of the full-scale war,' Terekhov posted on Telegram around 4.40am (2.40am Irish time), adding that drones were still buzzing overhead. The Russian strikes pummelled homes and apartment blocks, killing at least three people and wounding 17 more, the mayor said. A woman was also pulled alive from the rubble of a high-rise building. Kharkiv region Governor Oleg Synegubov said the wounded included two children. 'Medical personnel are providing the necessary assistance,' he wrote. The northeastern city was already reeling from an attack on Thursday that wounded at least 18 people, including four children. Advertisement Rescuers carry a wounded woman after Russian attack that hit a residential building in Kharkiv. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo In the southern port city of Kherson, Russian shelling killed a couple and damaged two high-rise buildings, regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. In the central Dnipropetrovsk region, governor Sergiy Lysak said Ukrainian forces had repelled 27 drones and two missiles overnight, but two women aged 45 and 88 were injured. Rescuers in the western city of Lutsk, near the Polish border, meanwhile discovered a second fatality from Friday's strikes, describing the victim as a woman in her 20s. The aerial bombardments come days after Ukraine launched a brazen attack well beyond the frontlines, damaging nuclear-capable military planes at Russian air bases and prompting vows of revenge from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia's defence ministry meanwhile said that 36 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles had been downed across a wide swath of territory. Ukraine has been pushing for an unconditional and immediate 30-day truce, issuing its latest proposal during peace talks in Istanbul on Monday. But Russia, which now controls around one-fifth of Ukraine's territory, has repeatedly rejected such offers to end its three-year war. The Kremlin said on Friday the Ukraine war was 'existential' for Russia. Ceasefire hopes dim The comments are Moscow's latest to dampen hopes for a breakthrough amid a flurry of meetings between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, as well as telephone calls between President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, aimed at stopping the fighting. 'For us it is an existential issue, an issue on our national interest, safety, on our future and the future of our children, of our country,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, responding to remarks by Trump on Thursday comparing Moscow and Kyiv to brawling children. Related Reads Trump-Putin phone call will not lead to 'immediate peace in Ukraine', US President says Ukraine attacks bridge connecting Crimea to Russia with over a thousand kilos of explosives Ukraine says it destroyed more than 40 military planes in drone attack in Russia Ahead of the talks this week in Istanbul, an audacious Ukrainian drone attack damaged nuclear-capable military planes at Russian air bases, including thousands of kilometres behind the front lines in Siberia. Putin had told Trump he would retaliate for the brazen operation, 18 months in the planning, in which Ukraine smuggled more than 100 small drones into Russia, parked them near Russian air bases and unleashed them in a coordinated attack. Putin has issued a host of sweeping demands on Ukraine if it wants to halt the fighting. They include completely pulling troops out of four regions claimed by Russia, but which its army does not fully control, an end to Western military support, and a ban on Ukraine joining Nato. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed the demands as old ultimatums, questioned the purpose of more such talks and called for a summit to be attended by him, Putin and Trump. With reporting from © AFP 2025 Want to know more about what's happening in Ukraine and why? Check out our new FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online. Visit Knowledge Bank Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
7 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Five killed in Russian attacks across Ukraine
Russia unleashed a barrage of missiles, drones and bombs across Ukraine early this morning, killing five people as it retaliated for a brazen attack on air bases days earlier. The Kremlin has accelerated its attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks, while the latest ceasefire negotiations have failed to broker an end to the three-year war. The Ukrainian air force said Russia had fired 206 drones and nine missiles and added that "the air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces". In Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv, Mayor Igor Terekhov counted 48 Iranian-made drones, two missiles and four guided bombs before dawn and said the attack was unprecedented. The northeastern city of some 1.4 million residents is located less than 50 kilometres from the Russian border. "Kharkiv is currently experiencing the most powerful attack since the beginning of the full-scale war," Mr Terekhov posted on Telegram around 4.40am (2.40am Irish time), adding that drones were still buzzing overhead. The Russian strikes pummelled homes and apartment blocks, killing at least three people and wounding 17 more, the mayor said. A woman was also pulled alive from the rubble of a high-rise building. Kharkiv region Governor Oleg Synegubov said the wounded included two children. "Medical personnel are providing the necessary assistance," he wrote. Kharkiv was already reeling from an attack on Thursday that wounded at least 18 people, including four children. In the southern port city of Kherson, Russian shelling killed a couple and damaged two high-rise buildings, regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. In the central Dnipropetrovsk region, governor Sergiy Lysak said Ukrainian forces had repelled 27 drones and two missiles overnight, but two women aged 45 and 88 were injured. Rescuers in the western city of Lutsk, near the Polish border, meanwhile discovered a second fatality from yesterday's strikes, describing the victim as a woman in her 20s. This morning's attacks come a day after Russia launched an intense missile and drone barrage at the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, killing at least six people as powerful explosions reverberated across the country. The attacks followed a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin, conveyed via US President Donald Trump, that the Kremlin would hit back after Ukrainian drones destroyed several strategic bomber aircraft in attacks deep inside Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky said three emergency responders were killed in the missile and drone salvo against the capital while two died in an attack on the northern city of Chernihiv and at least one more in the northwestern city of Lutsk. Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had carried out the strike on military and military-related targets in response to what it called Ukrainian "terrorist acts" against Russia. "They gave Putin a reason to go in and bomb the hell out of them last night," Mr Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One yesterday, when asked about how Ukraine's earlier drone strikes had affected the conflict. Mr Zelensky said 80 people nationwide had been injured in the attacks yesterday, which also struck several other towns and cities. He said residents could still be trapped under rubble. In Chernihiv, the national emergency services said two bodies were recovered from the rubble of a wrecked industrial enterprise. In Lutsk, the body of a man was found in the ruins of an apartment block, while emergency crews kept searching for his wife. Thirty people were hurt in the city, where educational institutions and a government building were also hit. Russian forces also struck industrial facilities and infrastructure in the western city of Ternopil, leaving parts of it without power, Mayor Serhii Nadal said. The regional administration said the attack had injured ten people and asked residents to temporarily stay inside due to a high concentration of toxic substances in the air after a fire. Hopes of ceasefire dim The Kremlin said yesterday the Ukraine war was "existential" for Russia. The comments are Russia's latest to dampen hopes for a breakthrough amid a flurry of meetings between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, as well as telephone calls between President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, aimed at stopping the fighting. "For us it is an existential issue, an issue on our national interest, safety, on our future and the future of our children, of our country," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, responding to remarks by Trump on Thursday comparing Russia and Ukraine to brawling children. Ahead of the talks this week in Istanbul, an audacious Ukrainian drone attack damaged nuclear-capable military planes at Russian air bases, including thousands of kilometres behind the front lines in Siberia. Mr Putin had told Mr Trump he would retaliate for the brazen operation, 18 months in the planning, in which Ukraine smuggled more than 100 small drones into Russia, parked them near Russian air bases and unleashed them in a coordinated attack. Mr Putin has issued a host of sweeping demands on Ukraine if it wants to halt the fighting. They include completely pulling troops out of four regions claimed by Russia, but which its army does not fully control, an end to Western military support, and a ban on Ukraine joining NATO. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the demands as old ultimatums, questioned the purpose of more such talks and called for a summit to be attended by him, Mr Putin and Mr Trump.
