Finland defies Brussels on wolf killing

Finland is pressing the European Commission for the right to shoot wolves, despite Brussels' view that the Nordic countries' wolf population must grow tenfold before hunting can resume.

Helsinki presented its new hunting proposal in late December, at the same time as it is fighting a case against the commission on wolf protection at the European Court of Justice (ECJ), Nordic media say.

The new Finnish plan on the protection of beasts of prey would allow hunters to shoot off parts of the wolf population if they constitute a threat to the environment, other animals, people or the wolves themselves.

The commission argues that wolf hunting is forbidden under the so-called "habitat-directive" of 1992, which aims to preserve biological diversity.

Wolves have been declared an endangered species and enjoy protection all over the EU, with the commission taking Finland to court in September last year over handing out too many wolf hunting permits.

The directive forbids killing or capturing wolves unless there are "exceptional cases".

The Finnish authorities claim the legal wording allows its view that the wolf population can be limited to the current 135 wolves of some 20 families.

But Brussels says the Finnish wolf population must consist of at least 1,000 animals before any hunting can go ahead.

Wolves: hot election issue

Finnish sovereignty over hunting matters might become a matter of dispute in the upcoming presidential elections on 15 January, with most Finns who live in in wolf-haunted regions demanding crackdowns in a recent government survey.

The biggest annoyance is that wolves kill hunting dogs, endangering the yearly elk-hunt.

Those interviewed also said the wolves threaten grazing cattle and scare children walking to school in forest areas.

Farmers also want the government to lift €250 fines for accidental or deliberate killings of beasts of prey.