A major step forward was made today in Brussels on brown bear management — one that, for the first time in a long while, could give mountain regions a real chance to have their voices heard at EU level.
At today’s meeting of the European People’s Party (EPP), where I took the floor, it became clear that both the European Parliament and the European Commission are beginning to view the brown bear issue through a new lens.
My speech in the EPP and the support from Herbert Dorfmann – historic statements were made
In my intervention, I highlighted that:
* the brown bear population is not only stable but growing exponentially in several European regions,
* this poses risks measurable in human lives,
* it renders traditional farming impossible,
* it pushes back mountain tourism,
* and it causes communities to lose their sense of safety.
Herbert Dorfmann, a key EPP member of the European Parliament’s AGRI Committee, fully agreed with these points.
The following key messages were expressed — each of them a breakthrough:
- The Habitats Directive does NOT prohibit regional or county-level management
In the wolf case, the European Commission officially stated that Member States are free to decentralise management to the regional level — intervention must occur where the problem appears.
This principle also applies to the brown bear and is available to Romania as well.
- The Directive has performed well, but we are now in a new era
In recent years, several species have not only recovered but expanded exponentially, creating new conflicts.
- The Directive’s annexes should be reviewed every 10 years
This would allow reducing protection levels in NUTS II regions where the bear is no longer endangered, while human life and economic activity are.
Meeting with FACE large carnivore expert – the Ariège Charter could gain new momentum
(FACE meeting with Guillaume Agède, FACE Policy Advisor on Large Carnivores)
Today’s political progress is closely connected to yesterday’s working meeting with Guillaume Agède, during which we reviewed:
* the Ariège Charter, one of Europe’s most important documents on mountain coexistence,
* its potential revival at EU level,
* and the need for joint European action, without which no long-term results can be achieved in brown bear management.
FACE experts also confirmed:
Across Europe, the same conflicts are emerging, and the time has come for mountain regions to speak with a common voice.
We also discussed the possibilities of:
* a common data centre,
* a unified damage administration system,
* NUTS II-level management plans,
* and coordinated action towards the political levels of the European Union.
What does all this mean for Europe?
The problems of mountain regions have become European problems.
Traditional farming methods that preserve biodiversity are in danger.
Brown bear management needs a new political approach: regional flexibility, openness to lowering protection levels, and targeted EU funding.
Safety, food production, and the survival of rural communities are European values that must be protected again.
What’s next? – The next steps
* Political pressure in the European Parliament for NUTS II regions.
* Opening the EU-level dialogue on reducing protection status.
* Incorporating mountain charters — such as the Ariège model — into EU policies.
* A unified compensation system, shared database, and rapid intervention teams.
* Coordinated action by the Committee of the Regions, FACE, and European Parliament Intergroups.
Conclusion
Europe has finally heard the voice of mountain communities.
On the brown bear issue, real political movement has begun within the European Union, and Harghita County is at the forefront of this process.
This framework may shape the EU’s nature conservation policy for the next decade.
We continue our work!
Brussels, 10 December 2025