WRITTEN QUESTION E-1393/98

by Alonso Puerta (GUE/NGL) , Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) and Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 May 1998)

Subject: Protection of wolves

A number of studies by different bodies on the situation and conservation of wolves in the Iberian peninsula have shown that at present the wolf population in the northern Duero area (Spain), included in Annex V to Directive 92/43/EEC(1) (as amended by Directive 97/62)(2), is suffering from serious conservation problems, with an annual mortality rate of 30 %: 70 % of those deaths are due to illegal methods, and the general trend is clearly downwards.

The population in the southern Duero area has become extinct thanks to the failure to implement the requisite protection measures, despite its being included in Annexes II and IV among the most protected species. It is now necessary to reintroduce the species under Article 22 of the directive; this could involve programmes cofinanced by the Member State and the Union.

Given that the Commission is the guardian of the Treaties, and that Article 130r of the EC Treaty establishes environmental preservation as one of the Community's objectives, and that the Commission is also responsible for ensuring the effective implementation by the Member States of the provisions adopted by the institutions to that end:

- what measures does the Commission intend to take to ensure that the wolf population of the northern Duero area is included in Annex IV to Directive 92/43/EEC, in view of the progressive decline in its situation?

- what action does the Commission intend to take on the problem of the extinction of the wolf population in the southern Duero area, given the failure of the Spanish state to implement the directive?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(11 June 1998)

The Commission does not intend in the short term to propose any amendments to the annexes to Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. It believes absolute priority must be given to setting up the Natura 2000 network, which task is now well under way. Amending the annexes at this stage could cause undesirable delays and distortions, even affecting the protection of wolves. Once the work on Natura 2000 is complete, the Commission might possibly propose amendments to the Directive's annexes as necessary to conserve the habitats and species concerned.

Article 22 of Directive 92/43/EC stipulates that Member States must study the desirability of re-introducing species in Annex IV that are native to their territory where this might contribute to their conservation, provided that an investigation, also taking into account experience in other Member States or elsewhere, has established that such re-introduction contributes effectively to re-establishing these species at a favourable conservation status and that it takes place only after proper consultation of the public concerned.

Spain could have recourse to this provision to tackle the disappearance of the wolf from the southern Duero. The Commission has no power of initiative in this matter.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

(2) OJ L 305, 8.11.1997, p. 42.