Wolf position paper – Eurogroup for Animals

The European Commission's proposal to downgrade the protection status of wolves in the EU threatens decades of conservation progress. We strongly oppose the move because it lacks scientific justification, violates EU treaties, and could undermine biodiversity efforts.
The data shows that most wolf populations remain vulnerable and lethal control measures are ineffective compared to proven coexistence strategies like electric fencing and livestock guardian dogs.
We call on the European Parliament and Council to reject the proposal and instead invest in sustainable wolf management and monitoring.
This briefing challenges the common perception that seals are a major threat to fisheries, arguing that scientific evidence shows their impact on fish stocks is minimal compared to overfishing, habitat degradation, pollution, and climate change.
Focusing particularly on the Baltic Sea, it highlights the fragile conservation status of seal populations, the threats they face from by-catch and environmental pressures, and the ecological and economic benefits they provide.
The document advocates for non-lethal solutions to fisheries conflicts, emphasizing coexistence measures, stronger seal protection, and evidence-based management rather than culling.
Across the European Union, hunting is often portrayed as the pursuit of wild animals in natural ecosystems. However, a significant portion of animals shot during hunts are not truly wild. Instead, they are bred in captivity on game farms and released shortly before hunting season to ensure a high supply of animals for shooting activities.
This report makes the case for ending fur farming in the EU, showing that higher welfare standards cannot solve the sector’s inherent issues and would come at a high cost. With the industry already in decline and contributing little economically, a phase-out would have limited impact while delivering clear benefits for animal welfare, public health and the environment, making an EU-wide ban the most credible way forward.
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This infographic highlights the key findings of a large-scale European survey conducted by Savanta across 18 EU Member States, revealing strong public support for an EU-wide positive list and stricter regulation of exotic pets. It showcases citizens’ clear preference for EU-level action, greater transparency and traceability in the pet trade, and overwhelming backing for a positive list approach, demonstrating a growing awareness that many of these animals do not belong in domestic settings.

Eurogroup for animals is a nonprofit organisation registered under Belgian law.
 

Founding member of the World Federation for Animals
 

Member of Civil Society Europe
 

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