Brussels, 03/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - At the very time that insecticides have been accused by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) of playing a role in the worrying high death rate of bees, European Bee Week (the second of its kind) opened on Monday 3 June in Brussels at the esplanade of the European Parliament, with the inauguration of the “Bee Village”. This will be open from 3-5 June to visitors seeking more information on the role of bees and what can be done to protect them better.
Given the devastating impact of the decline in bee populations on pollination and fruit and vegetable production worldwide, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (ULg), BeeOdiversity and the Réseau Biodiversité pour les Abeilles (France) joined together to organise this second European Bee Week event, sponsored by Gaston Franco MEP (EPP, France). This initiative seeks to promote greater understanding of this phenomenon, so that it is taken into account in the political decisions made to tackle this problem.
Discussions will begin on Tuesday 4 June in Gembloux (Belgium) at a conference that will enable scientists to present the public at large with a picture of the situation affecting apiculture and bee mortality across the world (Europe, Africa, Asia and America). Thierry Lucas, the head of biodiversity at a European level for UNEP explained that this international meeting would help to “promote the exchange of views from internationally recognised experts”. He also said that taking the time to understand and exchange ideas is “crucial for attempting to understand the complexity of the exceptionally high mortality rate of bees”.
At the European Parliament on Wednesday 5 June, policymakers will debate national and European strategies with scientists, and discuss what action should be taken to stem the decline of the bee population.
Gaston Franco pointed out that “bees are indispensable to agricultural production. Farming and apiculture are interconnected and one cannot happen without the other: bees are essential to the production chain. This is why this subject involves all of us. Finding solutions to the phenomenon of excess mortality rates for bees is therefore urgent”. He will be making an official visit to the information stands of the “Bee Village” at 11.30am on 5 June, accompanied by other participants, MEPs and joint organisers of the event.
EFSA has just officially recognised that, in addition to three neonicotinoid insecticides which will be suspended for two years in the EU from 1 December next, Fipronil also presents a high risk of toxicity to honeybees. This discovery has added grist to the mill of those demanding a total ban on the insecticides responsible for killing bees (see EUROPE 10855 and 10852). (AN/transl.fl)