29/03/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 29 March, the European Commission indicated that it had had a thorough debate on the question of bees but that nothing was effectively communicated from this inconclusive orientation debate. It did, however, deny the existence of projects that would almost totally ban three neonicotinoid pesticides that kill bees, and therefore refuted the leaks in the press claiming the this was the position of the College of Commissioners itself (see EUROPE 11753). The spokesperson, Alexander Winterstein, stated: “The commissioners discussed bees particularly because they learned in the press that there was apparently a Commission document on the issue but they did not know about it. This is something that the president does not appreciate. This is a political Commission. Important subjects are discussed at the College and it is there that the decisions are taken”. He added: “This is the first appraisal. It is an important political message demonstrating that the College is tackling the question”. (AN)