The European Commission said on Monday that it was taking formal action against Sweden for hunting wolves in breach of European Union (EU) legislation. "I regret that Sweden has begun the licensed hunting of wolves," the Commissioner for the environment Janez Potocnik said in a statement.
"The actions of the Swedish authorities leave me with little choice other than to propose to the Commission that it begin formal proceedings against Sweden for breach of EU environmental law."
"I hope that the Swedish government's promised effort to address the unfavorable conservation status of the wolf population in Sweden through translocation of wolves from other parts of Europe will be pursued without delay."
The spokesman said that the Commission will consider the matter of January 27.
Last month, Sweden announced hunters would be allowed to hunt 20 wolves in 2011 despite harsh criticism of last year's hunt.
The Swedish government told AFP that it was convinced the hunt was "in line with EU rules."
"But we will hear what the Commission has to say," it added.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency said that between January 15 and February 15, licensed hunters would be allowed to shoot 20 wolves, down from the quota of 27 animals last year.
Thousands of hunters have already killed 16 of the 20 wolves.
The hunt follows a 2009 decision by parliament to limit the wolf population to 210 animals.
The 2010 hunt was the first since 1964.
Wolves have reproduced in the last three decades with sheep and reindeer increasingly under attack after almost disappearing.
The head of Sweden's Association for the Protection of Nature welcomed the possibility of EU action.
"The noose is tightening around Sweden," said Mikael Karlsson, who heads the group.
Finland has also run into trouble from the European Commission in the past for allowing wolf hunting. However, it won a partial court victory over the EU executive in 2007. / redOrbit
What is the redOrbit Knowledge Network?
The redOrbit Knowledge Network is an online community specifically for those with an interest in science, space, health and technology. Please Join us today >> What is the redOrbit Knowledge Network?
Stig Östlund
Bloggarkiv
-
▼
2011
(7533)
-
▼
januari
(874)
- The Right Man at the Right Time?
- Al Ghazera
- Israeli-Egyptian relations
- IRIB 2
- Suez Canal
- $1.3 billion that the U.S. annually provides to Eg...
- Olivia Wilde Wants The World To Be a Better Place ...
- Castro says Obama has been underhanded in Egypt (CNN)
- A Concerned Israel Allows Egypt Sinai Troops
- Egyptians serve ultimatum to Mubarak to leave by F...
- James Bond music composer John Barry dies
- Netanyahu hopes to maintain peaceful relations wi...
- Fege Carl Bildt
- Synovates väljarbarometer januari 2011
- Latest
- Panic-stricken Hosni Mubarak's family flees Egypt
- The oilprice
- World leaders call on Egypt to enact reforms
- White House quietly prepares for a post-Mubarak er...
- Egyptian protesters on Monday called for an indefi...
- CRISIS IN EGYPT Iran wins, Israel loses in turmo...
- Helicopters hover as protesters gather in heart of...
- Analysis: The US Moral Conundrum in Egypt
- Assad: Syria in better position than Egypt since i...
- Så blev de miljonärer
- Dansk läsövning
- Svenske turisten Nijim fast i kaosets Kairo
- Efterlysning
- Sena x2000-tåg i morse
- Vår galna värld
- Cairo, January 30, 2011
- A protester in Cairo holds a sketch depicting ...
- AMMAN, JORDANOIN : Hundreds of protesters on Satur...
- Former President Jimmy Carter called the weeklong ...
- La Liga söndag
- China's Foreign Ministry on Monday said it hoped E...
- Asia Stocks Drop as Dollar, Yen Rise on Egypt Unre...
- "Mubarak is stuck in a corner. The only one he can...
- People pray in front of army tanks in Tahrir Squ...
- 'The King's Speech' wins at Screen Actors Guild Aw...
- Egypt's military moved more aggressively Sunday t...
- Why Are Oil Markets So Nervous About Egypt?
- Think you know the Middle East?
- La Liga
- Handboll
- Egypt's Tipping Point
- Lots tourists
- Egypt's Crisis: Tehran Sees Potential Benefit But ...
- Factbox: Major foreign companies operating in Egypt
- The accused person
- Fighter jets roar over Cairo as tension rises further
- Egypt send tanks into Cairo square as 20,000 prote...
- Facebook album shows Egyptian women taking part in...
- Nytt land
- King condemns violence in Egypt
- US offers flights to citizens out of Egypt
- Al Jazeera banned in Egypt
- Netanyahu: Israel's objective is to maintain peace...
- Sudan
- Tom Hooper wins top honors from the Directors Guil...
- Dubai Shares Fall Most in Year, Lead Gulf Drop, on...
- RISE UP EGYPT
- STATEMENTS BY EU HIGH REPRESENTATIVE CATHERINE ASH...
- Egypt death toll in Mubarak revolt tops 100.
- Ett blygsamt försök till analys
- Good Night - Bonne Nuit - Buenas Noches - God Natt
- Apropå
- Jordanians rally against corruption and poverty
- Game over?
- Egypt protest outside U.N.
- Is Pres Obama Supporting The Egyptian Protesters O...
- 'Don't take our girls ...' - Features - Al Jazeera...
- Ingen rubrik
- La Liga
- "Jihad Jane" förklarar sig skyldig
- Den anhållne och våldtäktsmisstänkte läkaren i Esk...
- Tourists Swarm Cairo Airport
- The price Mubarak will have to pay
- Egypt Revolution? Video of deadly anti-Mubarak pro...
- thousands clash with Egypt riot police in Cairo
- Mubarak appoints Omar Suleiman as vice president
- Israel Nervously Watches Egypt
- The Egyptian Revolution: A Very Fine Thing
- Lebanese support
- LIVE: Protests continue in Cairo and Alexandria, d...
- AMMAN, (AFP) — Thousands of Jordanians held peace...
- Without Egypt, Israel will be left with no friends...
- Did you know...? Facts and figures about lakes
- Disney paid Iger $16.3 million in salary and bonus...
- Egypt
- Full Video.President Hosni Mubarak Speech to Egypt...
- Not too tough
- Egypt Protests Continue, 24 killed
- Iran supports protests in Egypt as "wave of Islami...
- "Chaos"
- "A close ally of Washington"
- Stora problem för USA
- Obama speaks with Mubarak, urges Egyptian authorit...
- Good Night - Bonne Nuit - Buenas Noches - God Natt
- Mubarak fires ministers, appeals for calm
-
▼
januari
(874)