A European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) to phase out synthetic pesticides by 2035, support farmers and save bees and nature was launched on Monday 25 November by 90 civil society organisations from 17 EU countries, with the support of organic farming associations.
These NGOs include Friends of the Earth Europe (FoE) and FoE Austria, Pesticide Action Network (PAN), as well as the Munich Environment Institute, the Aurelia Foundation (Germany), Générations Futures (France) and GLOBAL 2000.
This ECI, named 'Save Bees and Farmers’, invites the European Commission to present legislative initiatives for a triple purpose:
1) phasing out synthetic pesticides by 2035: phasing out synthetic pesticides in EU agriculture by 2030, starting with the most dangerous, to achieve the total elimination of synthetic pesticides by 2035;
2) restoring natural ecosystems in agricultural areas so that farming becomes a vector for biodiversity recovery; and
3) supporting farmers in the transition. Agricultural reform should prioritise small-scale, diverse, and sustainable farming, should support a rapid increase in agroecological and organic practices, and should enable independent training and research into pesticide- and GMO-free farming.
If this ECI collects 1 million signatures in 7 different EU Member States, the Commission might consider legislating. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)