The European Court of Justice has ruled that reopening wolf hunting in the Spanish region of Castile and León is contrary to the European Habitats Directive. The 2019 decision to allow several hundred wolves to be shot annually should not be put into practice. A few weeks ago, the EU judges in Luxembourg made a similar ruling about plans by the Austrian canton of Tyrol.
Castile and León is a region with one of the largest wolf populations in Europe. The Spanish decision at the time was opposed by nature and environmental organizations, which argue that the shooting of wolves poses a serious threat to the species, which is already under pressure from habitat loss and illegal hunting.
According to the European Habitats Directive, killing a wolf is only permitted in exceptional cases. The Court ruled that the Spanish authorities had not provided sufficient evidence that hunting was necessary to prevent damage to livestock. There are alternative, less drastic measures available, such as the use of sheepdogs and reinforced fences, which have not been sufficiently considered or implemented.
The ruling is an important victory for animal rights activists. The Court also emphasized in this case that economic interests, such as those of the agricultural sector, do not outweigh the need to protect biodiversity. The Spanish government must now review its policies and ensure that wolf protection is in line with EU legislation.
The Court's decision could also have implications for other EU countries where the protection of wolves and other large carnivores is a point of contention. The ruling follows shortly after a similar decision on wolf hunting in Tyrol, Austria, where the Court also ruled that plans to shoot wolves were contrary to European rules.
The European Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, has repeatedly emphasized that protecting biodiversity is one of the key priorities of the European Green Deal. Environmental groups have welcomed the court's rulings as an important step towards better protection of wildlife in Europe.