On Tuesday 24 January, MEPs and members of the European Commission welcomed the objectives of the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Save bees and farmers! Towards a bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment’.
The initiative calls on the Commission to propose legal measures to phase out synthetic pesticides by 2035, to restore biodiversity and to support farmers during this transitional phase. These three themes were discussed at a joint meeting of the European Parliament’s agriculture and environment committees.
The Commission has until 7 April to present its formal response, setting out the measures it intends to take.
Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe, French), Chair of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, explained that the EU was taking action on several fronts (pesticides, nature restoration, rules on chemicals...)
For Benoît Biteau (Greens/EFA, French), “linking the fate of farmers and bees” is an excellent idea.
Ana Miranda (Greens/EFA, Spanish), on behalf of the European Parliament Committee on Petitions, said that this ECI represented an opportunity to restore ecosystems and raise the alarm about the situation for pollinators. She said that the bee population has declined by 37% and that 40% of bee species could disappear.
Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission, welcomed the objectives of this ECI, including the attainment of a more environmentally friendly agriculture.
The organisers of the ECI criticised industry and farmers for lobbying against the European Green Deal and attempts by Member States to delay legislation to reduce the use of pesticides.
Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, Italian) stressed the need for new plant protection products and incentives for farmers. Tiemo Wölken (S&D, German) denounced the increased use of pesticides.
Paolo De Castro (S&D, Italian) regretted the Commission’s delays in developing new plant breeding techniques. Martin Hojsík (Renew Europe, Slovakian) welcomed the new action plan to reverse the decline of pollinators by 2030 (see other news).
Commissioner for Environment Virginijus Sinkevičius recalled the revised EU initiative on pollinators, which aims, among other things, to mitigate the effects of pesticide use on pollinators (see other news).
Neonicotinoids. Michèle Rivasi (Greens/EFA, French) called for an end to derogations and welcomed the end of exceptions for the use of bee-killing neonicotinoids in EU Member States.
“I have no intention of messing farmers around, especially those who are worried, because in four to six weeks’ time they will be making decisions on planting seeds”, French minister for agriculture Marc Fesneau said at a press briefing in Paris.
The French government will therefore not propose a third year of derogation on beet seed coating. It is over for this element, the minister added after the EU Court of Justice ruling. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)