WRITTEN QUESTION E-0199/99

by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Subject: Threatened extinction of the wolf in Asturias (Spain)

The regional media have recently published the decision of the Wolf Commission to eliminate the species from the Asturian part of the Europa Peaks National Park. The Wolf Commission maintains that the distinctive traditional habitat of the wolf lies in the part of the conservation area situated in the province of Léon and is therefore insisting that all individual wolves that settle permanently in Asturias must be shot.

Is the European Commission aware of this situation, bearing in mind that Spain is one of the last wolf bastions in Western Europe?

The wolf is an animal species of Community interest that has to be strictly protected. Furthermore, Directive 92/43/EEC(1) stipulates that Member States must prohibit all forms of deliberate killing of wolves other than in specific exceptional cases where there is no satisfactory alternative and the killing will not undermine the continued favourable conservation status of the wolf population. That being the case, does not the Commission believe that the indiscriminate use of poison and traps and the reluctance of the authorities concerned to tackle this highly sensitive issue are running counter to proper implementation of the Directive?

What steps has Spain taken to incorporate the wolf into Annex II to Directive 92/43/EEC?

How far have the Spanish authorities progressed with the transposition of Directive 92/43/EEC?

Can the Commission report on the action taken in this matter?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 1999)

The Commission had not been aware of the facts mentioned by the Honourable Member.

Under Council Directive92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and on wild fauna and flora, the wolves located in Asturias (northern Duero) is a species listed in Annex V(a) as an animal species of Community interest whose taking in the wild and exploitation may be subject to management measures. In no case has the Commission been aware that poisons or traps were used, this being prohibited in principle by Article 15 of the abovementioned Directive. However, it should be pointed out that exemptions from Articles 12, 13, 14 and 15 are provided for by Article 16 of said Directive.

The wolf populations located in southern Duero are listed in Annex II to Council Directive 92/43/EEC as animal species of Community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special conservation areas. However, the wolf population described by the Honourable Member is covered by Annex V, since it is a population located in northern Duero, as mentioned above.

Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats has been transposed by Spain via the "Real Decreto 1997/1995 of 7 December 1995 which specifies action intended to contribute towards and guarantee biodiversity by conserving natural habitats and woodland fauna and flora" as amended by "Real Decreto 1193/1998 of 12 June 1998".

Since the information provided does not seem to identify any fact that is likely to constitute an infringement of Community law, the Commission does not intend to take any particular action involving the Spanish authorities.

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