Tag #Habitats Directive

What are the immediate consequences of the European Union's decision to downgrade the protection status of wolves?

The European Union recently downgraded the protection status of wolves, changing their designation from "strictly protected" to "protected." This allows for hunting, driven by agricultural concerns over livestock losses (around 65,500 head annually, mostly sheep and goats). The decision follows a proposal from the European Parliament and a survey showing 70% of respondents opposed the change.