Written question – Slovak Government cull of 350 brown bears – E-001897/2025

Question for written answer  E-001897/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
César Luena (S&D)

The Slovak Government has announced its intention to cull up to 350 brown bears, a figure equivalent to the species’ entire population in Spain. It is justifying the decision as a safety measure because human encounters with bears have been on the rise, some of them with tragic outcomes. However, the brown bear (Ursus arctos) is protected under the EU Habitats Directive, which provides for a strict ban on the hunting of that species except for in very specific circumstances.

In view of this state of affairs:

• 1.Does the Commission take the view that the Slovak law on which this decision is based is compatible with the provisions of articles 12 to 16 of the Habitats Directive and with the need for any derogation from strict species protection to be duly justified, to be limited and not to undermine the species’ conservation status?
• 2.Does the Commission intend to request from the Slovak authorities a detailed report on the alternatives considered, ecological impact studies carried out and the preventive measures taken before authorising the bears’ hunting?
• 3.If this action proves to be in breach of EU conservation rules, what legal action does the Commission intend to take?

Submitted: 13.5.2025