{"id":122449,"date":"2023-12-21T12:18:59","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T12:18:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yourclomid.com\/?p=122449"},"modified":"2023-12-21T12:18:59","modified_gmt":"2023-12-21T12:18:59","slug":"eu-chief-ursula-von-der-leyen-blasted-for-outrageous-backward-step","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yourclomid.com\/politics\/eu-chief-ursula-von-der-leyen-blasted-for-outrageous-backward-step\/","title":{"rendered":"EU chief Ursula von der Leyen blasted for \u2018outrageous\u2019 backward step"},"content":{"rendered":"

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EU plans to lift a continent-wide ban on wolf hunting are “outrageous”, the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) has said – with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused of \u201cdeliberately sacrificing decades of conservation work for her political gain\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Commission yesterday tabled a proposal for a European Council Decision to adapt the protection status of the wolf under the international Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. Specifically, the Commisson is proposing to change the status of wolves from “strictly protected” to “protected”.<\/p>\n

The current rules prohibit the capturing and killing of the carnivores unless the animals pose a danger to humans or livestock – but the shift in status would mean their hunting could be authorised.<\/p>\n

The WWF estimates there are 12,000 grey wolves in Europe, and 200,000 worldwide. Sabien Leemans, senior biodiversity policy officer at the WWF’s European Policy Office, said: \u201cThis is an outrageous announcement that has no scientific justification but is motivated purely by personal reasons and undermines not just the protection status of the wolf, but with it all nature conservation efforts in the EU.<\/p>\n

\u201cPresident von der Leyen is deliberately sacrificing decades of conservation work for her political gain, echoing her political allies\u2019 attempts to instrumentalise the wolf as a scapegoat for socio-economic problems in rural communities. This is unacceptable and can create a dangerous precedent for all species and habitats in and outside the territory of the EU.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> EU crony Donald Tusk criticised after shutting down Polish broadcaster<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wolf Pack Hunts A Hare<\/h3>\n

The announcement also ran counter to public opinion, Ms Leemans added, with a recent survey published by the Eurogroup for Animals on rural communities\u2019 perceptions about co-existence with large carnivores indicating that 68 percent think that wolves should be strictly protected. More than two-thirds (72 percent) agreed that they have a right to co-exist with humans.<\/p>\n

Ms Leemans added: \u201cThe proposal sabotages the EU\u2019s role as the reliable and leading partner in international fora and questions the authenticity of its efforts to achieve global biodiversity goals.<\/p>\n

“Just one year ago, President von der Leyen made a strong statement supporting the landmark agreement to guide global action on nature through 2030 together with the rest of the international community. Today\u2019s announcement calls these international commitments into question.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking yesterday, Ms von der Leyen, whose pony Dolly was killed by a wolf in Germany last year, said: \u201cThe comeback of wolves is good news for biodiversity in Europe. But the concentration of wolf packs in some European regions has become a real danger, especially for livestock.\u201d<\/p>\n

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