Some detail was lost in the translation. The [link|http://www.diaznet.de/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=137|original German] article specifically mentions "forest ants", not just "ants".

Some native species of forest ant made it to the German protected species list because they are essential to keep wood eating insects under control. Those you can't kill. The rest is free game. Of course, how one tells the difference is another matter ;)