Integrating private bird breeding into EU conservation policies

Question for written answer E-004839/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Benoit Cassart (Renew)

Many Europeans involved in breeding wild birds in protected areas point to how this could help conserve biodiversity. With the help of privately bred birds and small-scale European breeding, it has been possible to save or reintroduce several species currently classified as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. These include the Hawaiian goose, Laysan albatross, Mauritian pink pigeon, Grayson's dove, and Rothschild's myna (Bali starling) - a species native to Asia and one of the most endangered birds in the world.

At the same time, some Member States are bringing in 'positive lists' that strictly limit the keeping of bird species, without always taking into account how these birds bred in captivity can contribute to conservation. At grassroots level there are fears that these restrictions are depleting a gene pool that may play a crucial role in future reintroduction programmes, including when it comes to globally endangered species. This situation goes against the spirit of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.

With the above in mind, does the Commission intend to assess the impact of these restrictions on the future availability of back-up populations within the EU, including for the species that are seriously endangered on a global scale, such as the Rothschild's myna (Bali starling)?

Submitted: 5.12.2025