To empower the EU to tackle the alarming decline of wild pollinators in Europe, which threatens ecosystems, food security and farmers’ incomes, the European Commission presented, on Tuesday 24 January, a Communication and an Action Plan to reverse the decline of pollinators by 2030, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the related Farm to Fork Strategy (F2F).
The proposed framework and measures under this ‘New Deal for Pollinators’ reinforce the 2018 European Pollinators Initiative, which was considered useful but largely insufficient to address this challenge (see EUROPE 12728/8). They complement the proposal for an EU regulation establishing binding nature restoration targets (see EUROPE 12977/17).
The stakes are high, given that a third of bees, butterflies and hoverflies are in sharp decline, even though four out of five flowering plants in the EU need pollinators.
“This decline is worrying. Pollinators are crucial. Their disappearance would mean the disappearance of our ecosystems. Without them, our diets and farmers would be poorer”, stressed the Commissioner for the Environment, Virginijus Sinkevičius, presenting the revised initiative to the press, with three priority areas of action to tackle the root causes of decline.
“Rapid adoption of the Nature Restoration Regulation would give legal force to this 2030 target. We call on the Parliament and the EU Council to maintain the level of ambition and to proceed with the rapid adoption of these legislative texts” (see EUROPE 13097/7, 13088/1), he added.
Better conservation of species and habitats. The Commission will finalise conservation plans for threatened pollinator species. It will identify typical pollinators of habitats protected under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EC), which Member States should protect. Together with the Member States, the institution will also prepare a project for a network of ecological corridors for pollinators called ‘Buzz Lines’.
Restore habitats in agricultural landscapes. The aim will be to provide more support for pollinator-friendly agriculture within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Mitigate the impact of pesticide use on pollinators. As excessive pesticide use is a key factor in pollinator loss, halving pesticide use and risks by 2030 is foreseen in both the 2030 Biodiversity Strategy and the F2F Strategy.
The Commission wants to enforce the implementation of Integrated Pest Management through stricter legal requirements, in line with the proposed regulation on the sustainable use of pesticides which is of concern to Member States (see EUROPE 13087/7).
It will also strengthen the marketing authorisation procedures for pesticides under Regulation 1107/2009 by adopting additional test methods to determine the toxicity of pesticides to pollinators, broadening the scope of species covered and the effects to be assessed - including sublethal and chronic effects. The Commissioner assured on this occasion that the Commission “will continue to monitor emergency authorisations” (Article 53 of the Regulation) and will prohibit Member States from authorising those that are not justified.
This will be complemented by improving pollinator habitats in urban areas as well as combating the effects of climate change, invasive alien species and other threats to pollinators such as biocides or light pollution.
Conditions for success. The coordination of all measures in all sectoral policies; a more robust system for monitoring pollinators by strengthening research; awareness raising and the mobilisation of all stakeholders, “not only policy makers, but also scientists, citizens, farmers, businesses” are, according to the Commissioner, “the conditions for success”.
The success of the ‘Save Bees and Farmers’ citizens’ initiative bodes well for the mobilisation of citizens. It was debated the same day in the European Parliament (see other news in this news bulletin).
See the Communication: https://aeur.eu/f/527 (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)