Bijdrage aan land­bouw­com­missie over de wijziging van de habi­ta­trichtlijn met als doel de bescher­­mings­status van de wolf te verlagen

Anja Hazekamp (PvdD):

Thank you chair and thank you Mr. Delgado Rosa.

As vice-chair of the Environment committee, I would like to say that it is important to emphasize here that the Habitat Directive is still an ENVI competence. So the degree of protection of animals should be discussed there and not here. However, I have some AGRI related remarks as well. Can the Commission tell a bit more about the scientific evidence that is backing the decision to lower the protection status of the wolf. Or more accurate maybe, can you elaborate about the scientific evidence that is lacking. Hundreds of scientists and IUCN's Large Carnivore Initiative confirm that there is no scientific justification for downlisting the wolf and lowering the protection status. That means that no scientific evidence by independent peer-reviewed research is done.

And at this moment there are many projects and studies to invest in measures to protect farm animals and Mr. Delgado Rosa explained that they will still be available. But there are also generous financial compensation mechanisms in place in the member states regarding loss and damages. Can the Commission explain what the consequences are for these investments to help farmers when the wolf is no longer strictly protected in the European Union? Is it correct to assume that the generous financial compensation schemes will no longer be available or at least be harder to access as is the case for other species on annex 5?

And lastly, you want to talk about habitat, some info about nature. The wolf is one of those species that is beneficial for nature and biodiversity. They can help to rebalance ecosystems, they reduce the spread of zoonotic diseases and above all wolfs have an intrensic value and they have a right to live and to exist just as we do.

So don't kill the wolf.