Slovakia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Tomáš Taraba, claims he secured a deal with the European Commission to permit bear culling in return for his crucial vote for the EU’s Nature Restoration Law.

Taraba stated that Slovakia’s support for the Nature Restoration Law, which mandates the restoration of 20% of EU land and sea by 2030, was conditional on the approval of Slovakia’s new bear legislation.

This law permits bear culling near human settlements, addressing rising concerns over frequent bear attacks in Slovakia.

The EU denied any quid pro quo. However, a note from EU environment chief Virginijus Sinkevičius to the Slovak minister seemed to offer provisional support for Slovakia’s bear culling law and requested Taraba’s vote for the nature legislation.

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Previously opposed to the Nature Restoration Law, citing EU overreach, Taraba changed his stance after assurances from Sinkevičius. His vote helped the law pass by a narrow margin among EU ministers.

The law faced significant opposition from farmers and caused political turmoil in Austria, highlighting the contentious nature of the legislation.

Bear attacks have become a major issue in Slovakia, with increased incidents in recent years. The Slovak parliament recently passed a law allowing emergency permits to kill bears near human settlements, which may breach EU restrictions on killing protected species.

Sinkevičius refuted any notion of a deal, stating, “There were no discussions or negotiations: bears or nature restoration law.” He emphasized that no specific accommodations were made to secure Slovakia’s support.

However, in his note to Taraba, Sinkevičius indicated that his legal team had reviewed the new Slovak law and found it largely compliant with the EU Habitats Directive, with some caveats depending on implementation.

Taraba interpreted this as full compliance and used it to justify his support for the Nature Restoration Law.

“For us, it’s a good result,” he told Eurpoean news agencies, noting that the Commission understood Slovakia’s critical points.

ClientEarth lawyer Ioannis Agapakis criticized the Commission’s letter as ‘concerning’, arguing that EU laws already allow for human safety measures, with shooting as a last resort. He warned that reactionary measures like Slovakia’s bear culling law could lead to further legal breaches and fail to prevent future incidents.

Despite these concerns, Taraba’s vote was secured, marking a significant development in the passage of the Nature Restoration Law.