European Countries Grant Farmers Greater Freedom to Address Wolf Encounters

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has achieved a personal victory after successfully campaigning for a proposal to gain approval from EU governments. The proposal holds special significance for von der Leyen, whose pet pony Dolly was killed by a wolf in 2022.

The measure received broad support from countries such as Andorra, Armenia, Georgia, Iceland, Norway, North Macedonia, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Serbia, Switzerland, and Ukraine, alongside all 27 EU member states. However, the United Kingdom, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Monaco, and Albania opposed it, while Tunisia and Turkey chose to abstain, according to sources present at the discussions.

A press release clarified that the change will officially take effect in three months unless a third of the parties to the Council of Europe’s Bern Convention—17 in total—raise objections.

Von der Leyen celebrated the decision, describing it as “important news for our rural communities and farmers.” She added that it represents “a balanced approach between the preservation of wildlife and the protection of our livelihoods.”

The decision was also welcomed by hunters. Laurens Hoedemaker, president of the European Hunters Federation, called it a notable development, stating, “[T]his presents an opportunity for the Habitats Directive to accommodate this conservation success. There are still some legal hurdles, but they are now achievable.”