The European Parliament approves that the wolf in Europe is classified as only "protected", instead of "strictly protected".
The change follows that the EU Commission got the EU member states and the European Council on board for the downgrading last autumn, since the wolf population in Europe has grown in recent years.
The new classification comes into force when the EU Council of Ministers has also taken the same formal decision, which is expected shortly.
In the European Parliament, 371 members voted in favour of the reclassification against 162 noes and 37 abstentions. The change means that it will be easier for countries to implement hunting and other measures.
