By a very large majority, the European Parliament opposed, Wednesday 23 October, the Commission's draft regulation, which only partially incorporates the 2013 EFSA guidelines on pesticide risk assessment for bees in order to accommodate 16 EU Member States opposed to its full application.
Because this proposal was limited to acute risks and ignores the risks of chronic toxicity and effects on other pollinators, Parliament vetoed the text to ensure maximum protection for bees and other pollinators suffering from a dramatic decline. An absolute majority was required to force the Commission to reconsider its position (see EUROPE 12354/8). Mission accomplished, since the objection was adopted by 533 votes to 67, with 100 abstentions.
The Commission will therefore have to present a new draft based on the latest scientific and technical knowledge and use its powers to avoid giving in to the “unacceptable” attitude of the Member States, according to Parliament.
“With this text, we have a unique opportunity to curb this decline. This is a major challenge for the preservation of biodiversity and agricultural production. Indeed, without pollinators, we will no longer have agriculture”, commented Agnès Evren and Nathalie Colin-Oesterlé (EPP, France), in a press release.
According to Eric Andrieu (S&D, France), who chaired Parliament’s special PEST committee, “agrochemical lobbies must no longer make the law. This is what the European Parliament has just firmly reminded the European Commission with this vote!”
Instead of a reduced proposal, “we are asking the Commission to present us with legislation that eliminates the most dangerous pesticides for pollinators”, said Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe, France).
“We demand that the new Commission fully implement the 2013 EFSA guidelines. Only these comply with the 2009 pesticide legislation, which includes assessment for acute as well as chronic toxicity to ensure the protection of bees”, says Michèle Rivasi (Greens/EFA, France). Her Dutch colleague from the same political group, Bas Eickhout, welcomed the “strong signal to the Commission not to give in to pressure from Member States and the agro-chemical industry”.
On behalf of the Commission, Christos Stylianides said he had “taken note” of this resolution. According to him, the EU Council “does not support” the comprehensive EFSA guidelines, which he said he regretted. He also found regrettable that due to Parliament’s objection to the draft Regulation, the EFSA guidelines, even if partially taken up, “cannot be implemented” (see EUROPE 12335/16). According to Franziska Achterberg of Greenpeace, “the Parliament has passed its first ‘green test’”. She is now counting on Ursula von der Leyen and her team to do the same. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)