An EEP is the most intensive type of population management for a species kept in the  European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) zoos. Each EEP has a coordinator (someone with a special interest in and knowledge of the species concerned, who is working in an EAZA zoo or aquarium). He or she is assisted by a Species Committee. The bearded vulture EEP was established in 1993 and its coordinator is Dr. Hans Frey, who also sits in the VCF management board.

The EEP coordinator has many tasks to fulfill, such as collecting information on the status of all the individuals of the species kept in EAZA zoos and aquariums, producing a studbook, carrying out demographical and genetical analyses, and producing a plan for the future management of the species.

Together with the Species Committee, recommendations are made each year on which birds should breed or not breed, which individuals should go from one zoo to another, and so on.

Annual reports on the EEP and the reintroduction from 2002 to 2007 can be found here>>