Brussels, 10/10/2022 (Agence Europe) – The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Save bees and farmers’ has become the seventh successful ECI. The organisers confirmed on Monday 10 October that it had received more than one million statements of support from EU citizens. The initiative calls on the European Commission to propose legislation to phase out synthetic pesticides by 2035, restore biodiversity and support farmers in this transition. The Commission will meet with the organisers to discuss the initiative in the coming weeks. A public hearing will then be organised by the European Parliament. The Commission has until 7 April 2023 to present its official response (legislation, other non-legislative measures or nothing). “This is a strong democratic signal to EU and national decision-makers to listen to citizens and move away from toxic pesticides”, according to PAN Europe. (LC)