The draft law comes after a woman died in March, falling off a ravine, after she was chased by a bear; five people were injured in a separate attack.

Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba, who represents the far-right Slovak National Party and put forward the draft legislation, has been pushing to loosen protection rules for bears both at the national and the European levels.

At a meeting of EU environment ministers last week, Taraba called on the European Commission to downgrade the protection status of the brown bear.

Bears are a protected species under EU law, meaning their culling is strictly regulated and should not undermine their long-term conservation.

The legislative fast track removes some barriers in the parliament, but Taraba will still need broad support for it to pass.

“In a short time, we will give the opposition a chance to show whether it is on the side of the citizens, their health and lives, or with various irresponsible non-governmental organizations who say that bears are herbivores and citizens are not in danger,” the minister said in a press release.