Romania has told the European Commission that its growing brown bear population has become a constant threat to its farmers, affecting their income and safety.

“Between 2024 and 2026 alone, 1,806 domestic animals were killed by large carnivores, mainly bears," Romania's interim agriculture minister Tanczos Barna told the EU agriculture and fisheries council (AGRIFISH Council) on Tuesday.

"In the past 20 years, 27 people have been killed as a result of bear attacks, most of which were farmers and shepherds who were guarding their animals. More than 274 people survived bear attacks, but were left with severe long-term injuries.

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“The latest scientific study based on genetic samples has showed that the brown bear population in Romania is approximately at 11,500 individuals compared to 4,000 individuals in 2007 when Romania joined the EU, highlighting the increasing pressure on local communities particularly in mountain and hill areas."

It is “tragic and morbid that in the 21st century, my co-citizens should be eaten by wild animals,” the Romanian minister told the council.

Compensation

He said that the Romanian state pays millions of euros in compensation to farmers annually and that the country is already applying measures such as emergency interventions, providing support for electric fences and scientific monitoring of the bear population.

He said that for farmers, there are additional costs for electric fences, security, monitoring systems, guard dogs and additional labour.

But that “the reality on the ground clearly shows that the current management tools are no longer sufficient”.

He called for active management of the population density, which he said is a measure that is often contested by civil society organisations, as the brown bear is strictly protected by the habitats directive.

He called for a more flexible approach in managing bear populations and for Article 16 of the habitats directive to acknowledge the scientifically grounded control of brown bear populations density as a legitimate management tool to use in cases where the conservation status is maintained.

Slovakia

“Both Slovakia and Romania are among the countries that have long borne an exceptionally high responsibility for the conservation of Europe’s bear population,” state secretary of the ministry of agriculture in Slovakia Vladimír Vnuk told the council.

“More than half of Europe’s entire bear population now lives in our countries, even though our forests only account for a small portion of Europe’s territory,” he added.

He said that there has also been a number of fatalities in Slovakia as a result of bear attacks and that farmers are also facing increasing damage to livestock and crops, as well as additional costs for protective measures.

“If member states bear the costs, risks and social consequences of protecting this animal, shouldn’t they also have appropriate tools to manage it?” he asked.

He supported Romania in requesting flexibility in the application of the existing legislative framework and for “a clear interpretation of the Article 16 of the habitats directive and the recognition of science-based population management as a legitimate tool where there is a long-standing conflict between humans and large carnivores”.

“Slovakia is calling for a realistic assessment of the situation, greater flexibility and more trust in those member states that have long demonstrated that they take nature conservation seriously but also bear the consequences of such conservation.”

Finland

In Finland, bear populations have not been regulated by hunting for three years, according to Finnish agriculture minister Sari Essayah, which she said has led to a record increase of the brown bear population.

Last year, it grew by 16% and is now approaching the threshold value of 3,000 bears and the problems caused by the growing population have also increased significantly, she claimed.

She agreed with Romania and Slovakia and stated that “Article 16 of the habitats directive does not provide sufficient flexibility to manage such brown bear populations… it is necessary to introduce more flexibility for eastern and other populations by amending the annexes in the habitats directive”.

Response

In response, European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi said that the EU “fully acknowledges the critical importance of this issue and stands ready to support Romania, as well as any other member state in a similar situation, in finding practical solutions to achieve better co-existence between its bears and the people”.

He said that the habitats directive makes it possible for national authorities to effectively derogate from the strict protection provisions. In the interest of public health and safety, to prevent serious damage to livestock and crops, and that these derogations have already been used in Romania.

Concerning the proposals to use Article 16 of the habitats directive for systematic population control, he said Commission services are available to thoroughly discuss this issue with affected member states.

“I would encourage Romania and the other member states with a high bear population density to continue increase the promotion of measures that help prevent conflict with bears.

“Derogations, on the other hand, should be first directed at bears in problematic areas – where conflicts actually happen the most.

“The ongoing stress test of the birds and habitats directive provides an opportunity to collectively reflect on species protection, derogations and the procedures for adapting the annexes to scientific and technical progress.

“The Commission will continue to support and stand with you on this challenge.”