Latest news with #SanderSmit
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
European Parliament votes to lower protections on wolves
BARCELONA (AP) — Lawmakers in Europe voted Thursday to downgrade protections for wolves across the European Union's 27 states in a victory for farmers over environmentalists. Nearly two-thirds of the European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg, France voted to change wolves' status from 'strictly protected' to 'protected' in a vote of 371 to 162, with 37 abstentions. Centrist and right-wing groups celebrated the vote. 'Farmers can now breathe a sigh of relief," said Herbert Dorfmann, a spokesperson for the European People's Party, a coalition of center-right groups in the EU. Right-wing Dutch politician Sander Smit said on Twitter: 'This is fantastic news." Environmental groups criticized the decision as politically motivated rather than scientifically grounded. 'This is a sad day for biodiversity and wild animals,' said Léa Badoz at the Eurogroup for Animals. Joanna Swabe, a spokesperson for Humane World for Animals, called for individual governments to increase national protection for wolves. Politician Jutta Paulus from the parliament's Greens party said the campaign to reduce the wolves' protection 'borrows from the Donald Trump playbook' and 'ignores scientific evidence and attacks legislation which has been proven to work for decades for no clear gain other than the scoring of cheap populistic points." Tuesday's vote was the final real hurdle before the measure becomes EU law. The change to the central Habitats Directive law will now likely be passed swiftly by the European Council and enter into force across the 27 member states. Once deemed necessary to combat threats to the apex predator, restrictions on hunting wolves have over the past few years lost public support as many EU environmental rules and regulations have come under pressure in recent years. Populist and extreme-right parties have criticized the measures as being thought up by urban elites with little knowledge of rural life. Farmers in many member states have been increasingly angered by attacks on livestock by packs of wolves that have thrived in woods and fields close to agricultural land. The political movement to ease rules on killing wolves was given top-level support by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. An ardent fan of horses, von der Leyen had a pony Dolly that was killed by a wolf three years ago. Last year, more than 50 European nations from Turkey to Iceland voted to change the biodiversity treaty known as the Bern Convention to curtail protections for wolves. Experts and environmental groups estimate there could be up to 19,000 wolves across Europe, with large populations thought to roam in Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania and Spain. After nearly being wiped out in the 20th century, their numbers are estimated to have grown by at least 25% over the last decade. Programs around the world to protect wolves have been shown to benefit local ecosystems. Yellowstone National Park in the United States said reintroducing wolves in 1995 had led to a better regulated food chain that helped drive a bump in forest cover and animal populations. Yet American states like Wyoming and Montana have passed similar bills allowing for more killing of wolves, driven as in Europe by politics mixing agitated farmers and safety concerns. 'Wolves are vital to healthy ecosystems, but today's vote treats them as a political problem, not an ecological asset', said Ilaria Di Silvestre, Director of Policy and Advocacy for Europe at International Fund for Animal Welfare. 'The EU was once proud to lead on nature protection. Now we are seeing vital species like the wolf sacrificed for short-term political interests that will benefit no one.'
08-05-2025
- Politics
European Parliament votes to lower protections on wolves
BARCELONA -- Lawmakers in Europe voted Thursday to downgrade protections for wolves across the European Union's 27 states in a victory for farmers over environmentalists. Nearly two-thirds of the European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg, France voted to change wolves' status from 'strictly protected' to 'protected' in a vote of 371 to 162, with 37 abstentions. Centrist and right-wing groups celebrated the vote. 'Farmers can now breathe a sigh of relief," said Herbert Dorfmann, a spokesperson for the European People's Party, a coalition of center-right groups in the EU. Right-wing Dutch politician Sander Smit said on Twitter: 'This is fantastic news." Environmental groups criticized the decision as politically motivated rather than scientifically grounded. 'This is a sad day for biodiversity and wild animals,' said Léa Badoz at the Eurogroup for Animals. Joanna Swabe, a spokesperson for Humane World for Animals, called for individual governments to increase national protection for wolves. Politician Jutta Paulus from the parliament's Greens party said the campaign to reduce the wolves' protection 'borrows from the Donald Trump playbook' and 'ignores scientific evidence and attacks legislation which has been proven to work for decades for no clear gain other than the scoring of cheap populistic points." Tuesday's vote was the final real hurdle before the measure becomes EU law. The change to the central Habitats Directive law will now likely be passed swiftly by the European Council and enter into force across the 27 member states. Once deemed necessary to combat threats to the apex predator, restrictions on hunting wolves have over the past few years lost public support as many EU environmental rules and regulations have come under pressure in recent years. Populist and extreme-right parties have criticized the measures as being thought up by urban elites with little knowledge of rural life. Farmers in many member states have been increasingly angered by attacks on livestock by packs of wolves that have thrived in woods and fields close to agricultural land. The political movement to ease rules on killing wolves was given top-level support by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. An ardent fan of horses, von der Leyen had a pony Dolly that was killed by a wolf three years ago. Last year, more than 50 European nations from Turkey to Iceland voted to change the biodiversity treaty known as the Bern Convention to curtail protections for wolves. Experts and environmental groups estimate there could be up to 19,000 wolves across Europe, with large populations thought to roam in Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania and Spain. After nearly being wiped out in the 20th century, their numbers are estimated to have grown by at least 25% over the last decade. Programs around the world to protect wolves have been shown to benefit local ecosystems. Yellowstone National Park in the United States said reintroducing wolves in 1995 had led to a better regulated food chain that helped drive a bump in forest cover and animal populations. Yet American states like Wyoming and Montana have passed similar bills allowing for more killing of wolves, driven as in Europe by politics mixing agitated farmers and safety concerns. 'Wolves are vital to healthy ecosystems, but today's vote treats them as a political problem, not an ecological asset', said Ilaria Di Silvestre, Director of Policy and Advocacy for Europe at International Fund for Animal Welfare. 'The EU was once proud to lead on nature protection. Now we are seeing vital species like the wolf sacrificed for short-term political interests that will benefit no one.'
Winnipeg Free Press
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
European Parliament votes to lower protections on wolves
BARCELONA (AP) — Lawmakers in Europe voted Thursday to downgrade protections for wolves across the European Union's 27 states in a victory for farmers over environmentalists. Nearly two-thirds of the European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg, France voted to change wolves' status from 'strictly protected' to 'protected' in a vote of 371 to 162, with 37 abstentions. Centrist and right-wing groups celebrated the vote. 'Farmers can now breathe a sigh of relief,' said Herbert Dorfmann, a spokesperson for the European People's Party, a coalition of center-right groups in the EU. Right-wing Dutch politician Sander Smit said on Twitter: 'This is fantastic news.' Environmental groups criticized the decision as politically motivated rather than scientifically grounded. 'This is a sad day for biodiversity and wild animals,' said Léa Badoz at the Eurogroup for Animals. Joanna Swabe, a spokesperson for Humane World for Animals, called for individual governments to increase national protection for wolves. Politician Jutta Paulus from the parliament's Greens party said the campaign to reduce the wolves' protection 'borrows from the Donald Trump playbook' and 'ignores scientific evidence and attacks legislation which has been proven to work for decades for no clear gain other than the scoring of cheap populistic points.' Tuesday's vote was the final real hurdle before the measure becomes EU law. The change to the central Habitats Directive law will now likely be passed swiftly by the European Council and enter into force across the 27 member states. Once deemed necessary to combat threats to the apex predator, restrictions on hunting wolves have over the past few years lost public support as many EU environmental rules and regulations have come under pressure in recent years. Populist and extreme-right parties have criticized the measures as being thought up by urban elites with little knowledge of rural life. Farmers in many member states have been increasingly angered by attacks on livestock by packs of wolves that have thrived in woods and fields close to agricultural land. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The political movement to ease rules on killing wolves was given top-level support by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. An ardent fan of horses, von der Leyen had a pony Dolly that was killed by a wolf three years ago. Last year, more than 50 European nations from Turkey to Iceland voted to change the biodiversity treaty known as the Bern Convention to curtail protections for wolves. Experts and environmental groups estimate there could be up to 19,000 wolves across Europe, with large populations thought to roam in Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania and Spain. After nearly being wiped out in the 20th century, their numbers are estimated to have grown by at least 25% over the last decade. Programs around the world to protect wolves have been shown to benefit local ecosystems. Yellowstone National Park in the United States said reintroducing wolves in 1995 had led to a better regulated food chain that helped drive a bump in forest cover and animal populations. Yet American states like Wyoming and Montana have passed similar bills allowing for more killing of wolves, driven as in Europe by politics mixing agitated farmers and safety concerns. 'Wolves are vital to healthy ecosystems, but today's vote treats them as a political problem, not an ecological asset', said Ilaria Di Silvestre, Director of Policy and Advocacy for Europe at International Fund for Animal Welfare. 'The EU was once proud to lead on nature protection. Now we are seeing vital species like the wolf sacrificed for short-term political interests that will benefit no one.'
Associated Press
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
European Parliament votes to lower protections on wolves
BARCELONA (AP) — Lawmakers in Europe voted Thursday to downgrade protections for wolves across the European Union's 27 states in a victory for farmers over environmentalists. Nearly two-thirds of the European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg, France voted to change wolves' status from 'strictly protected' to 'protected' in a vote of 371 to 162, with 37 abstentions. Centrist and right-wing groups celebrated the vote. 'Farmers can now breathe a sigh of relief,' said Herbert Dorfmann, a spokesperson for the European People's Party, a coalition of center-right groups in the EU. Right-wing Dutch politician Sander Smit said on Twitter: 'This is fantastic news.' Environmental groups criticized the decision as politically motivated rather than scientifically grounded. 'This is a sad day for biodiversity and wild animals,' said Léa Badoz at the Eurogroup for Animals. Joanna Swabe, a spokesperson for Humane World for Animals, called for individual governments to increase national protection for wolves. Politician Jutta Paulus from the parliament's Greens party said the campaign to reduce the wolves' protection 'borrows from the Donald Trump playbook' and 'ignores scientific evidence and attacks legislation which has been proven to work for decades for no clear gain other than the scoring of cheap populistic points.' Tuesday's vote was the final real hurdle before the measure becomes EU law. The change to the central Habitats Directive law will now likely be passed swiftly by the European Council and enter into force across the 27 member states. Once deemed necessary to combat threats to the apex predator, restrictions on hunting wolves have over the past few years lost public support as many EU environmental rules and regulations have come under pressure in recent years. Populist and extreme-right parties have criticized the measures as being thought up by urban elites with little knowledge of rural life. Farmers in many member states have been increasingly angered by attacks on livestock by packs of wolves that have thrived in woods and fields close to agricultural land. The political movement to ease rules on killing wolves was given top-level support by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. An ardent fan of horses, von der Leyen had a pony Dolly that was killed by a wolf three years ago. Last year, more than 50 European nations from Turkey to Iceland voted to change the biodiversity treaty known as the Bern Convention to curtail protections for wolves. Experts and environmental groups estimate there could be up to 19,000 wolves across Europe, with large populations thought to roam in Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania and Spain. After nearly being wiped out in the 20th century, their numbers are estimated to have grown by at least 25% over the last decade. Programs around the world to protect wolves have been shown to benefit local ecosystems. Yellowstone National Park in the United States said reintroducing wolves in 1995 had led to a better regulated food chain that helped drive a bump in forest cover and animal populations. Yet American states like Wyoming and Montana have passed similar bills allowing for more killing of wolves, driven as in Europe by politics mixing agitated farmers and safety concerns. 'Wolves are vital to healthy ecosystems, but today's vote treats them as a political problem, not an ecological asset', said Ilaria Di Silvestre, Director of Policy and Advocacy for Europe at International Fund for Animal Welfare. 'The EU was once proud to lead on nature protection. Now we are seeing vital species like the wolf sacrificed for short-term political interests that will benefit no one.'
Euronews
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Commission denies singling out NGOs in green funding row
ADVERTISEMENT After a vote during a fractious meeting of the European Parliament's environment committee, the row over the funding of non-governmental organisations in the EU policy bubble is rolling on, with a statement from the EU executive provoking criticism that it was bending to pressure from the political right. The conservative European People's Party (EPP) and allies further to the right lost by one vote on Monday evening a motion objecting to the EU executive's decision on funding NGOs through the LIFE Programme for the period 2025 to 2027. In a subsequent statement, the Commission noted that funding for NGOs was 'explicitly provided for in the LIFE Regulation' and that it remained 'fully committed to ensuring a healthy and vibrant civil society'. However, it also stated some work programmes attached to grant agreements 'contained specific advocacy actions and undue lobbying activities'. The EPP seized on the latter statement, with the co-sponsor of the censure motion Sander Smit saying the Commission had 'finally admitted' wrongdoing – although Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin did just that in the parliament in January, when he acknowledged use of EU funds to lobby MEPs was inappropriate. Related Use of EU funds to lobby MEPs was 'inappropriate', commissioner says Smit pointed to the EU executive's fresh commitment to preclude 'lobbying that targets specific policies or MEPs' from grant agreements, prevent conflicts of interest and review transparency. 'This is good news for EU taxpayers, for the integrity and balance of EU Institutions and for the separation of powers,' he said. 'It is also good news for those parts of civil society organisations that work transparently and fairly,' the Dutch lawmaker added. The European Environmental Bureau, among the largest green groups operating in Brussels, welcomed the Commission's acknowledgment of the 'essential role' of NGOs, but pointed to 'serious questions' the process had raised around 'blackmailing and backdoor influencing by some political groups'. Commission denies 'singling out' NGOs Faustine Bas-Defossez, the group's policy director, said public funding enabled NGOs to work in the public interest and represent voices that would otherwise go unheard by policy makers. 'If that's considered 'undue lobbying', then we must seriously question what those standards mean for the future of democratic accountability in Europe,' she said. The Socialists & Democrats group, second in size only to the EPP, slammed what it sees as submission to pressure from the right and demanded that environment commissioner Jessika Roswall explain why green groups are being 'singled out'. 'This politically motivated move risks legitimising right-wing attacks to silence civil society,' the S&D said on social media. 'We won't accept this.' Asked by Euronews to respond to this criticism, a spokesperson for the EU executive, Balazs Ujvari, said guidance issued last May applied to all beneficiaries of funding through the LIFE Programme, which has a budget of €5.43 billion for the period 2021-2027, of which NGOs shared about €15 million last year, with individual grants capped at €700,000. Private companies, local authorities and research foundations also receive LIFE funding, but the issues that prompted the EU executive to take action had arisen in relation to NGOs 'according to our own research and assessment', Ujvari said. 'We don't want to be seen as obliging…non-governmental organisations to lobby concrete members of the European Parliament,' the Commission official said. 'This is the main consideration for us.' Eurosceptics demand a parliamentary inquiry If the EPP's latest statement seemed somewhat conciliatory – they 'strongly support the LIFE programme and recognise the very important role of NGOs', the group's environment policy coordinator Peter Liese said – the same cannot be said for the co-sponsor of the failed parliamentary motion, the eurosceptic ECR group. Related MEPs reject call to halt funding for environmental NGOs On the morning after the vote, co-chair Nicola Procaccini told reporters in Strasbourg that the ECR wanted to set up a parliamentary committee of inquiry into what they are characterising as a full-blown corruption scandal. ADVERTISEMENT 'We have successfully gathered the required number of signatures to initiate the procedure for a formal committee of inquiry about the so-called Timmermans-gate,' Procaccini said, adding that the proposal would be put forward at the next meeting of parliamentary group presidents, who set the parliamentary agenda. However, it appears far from likely that the initiative will succeed. The ECR and its allies further to the right would need the support of the EPP, so the position of group leader Manfred Weber at the meeting on Thursday morning (3 April) will be decisive. An official contacted by Euronews said the group had not formally discussed the subject. 'However, the EPP generally does not support the multiplication of special parliamentary committees, especially when existing committees, such as CONT, are already fully capable of addressing the issue.' The official was referring to the parliament's committee on budgetary control, which is due to adopt on 7 April its report on the discharge of the Commission's 2023 budget. ADVERTISEMENT Greens co-chair Terry Reintke told Euronews that NGOs play an "essential role in balancing the interests of business in European legislation" and it "goes without saying that EU funds must be spent according to the rules", but she questioned the ECR's motives. "Following the script of Donald Trump and Viktor Orbán, ECR wants to silence NGOs and civil society, and we call on EPP members to stick with the democratic centre," the German lawmaker said. The EU Court of Auditors is due to present next week an eagerly awaited report into NGO funding that, although it will not specifically target groups operating primarily in the Brussels policy making bubble, will no doubt shine a light on the EU executive's monitoring and transparency practices.
