The EU Pollinators Initiative launched by the EU in June 2018 is insufficient to save bees and other pollinators, the European Parliament’s Environment Committee stressed on Tuesday 3 December, in a draft resolution calling for much more radical urgent measures.
The text, adopted by an overwhelming majority (60 votes in favour, none against, 1 abstention), calls for the reduction of pesticide use to become a key element of the future common agricultural policy in order to help further reduce the amount of pesticide residues in bee habitats.
MEPs also call for the development of indicators of the vitality of the colonies to assess the effectiveness of the measures.
Finally, they are calling for more funding to support research into the causes of bee decline.
MEPs believe that the EU Pollinators Initiative, adopted in response to calls from the European Parliament and the EU Council, is inadequate to address the main root causes of the decline of pollinators in Europe (see EUROPE 12355/11).
The European Parliament will vote on this draft resolution at its January plenary session. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)