13/07/2023 (Agence Europe) – The European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture has postponed its vote on the proposal on the sustainable use of pesticides until 18 and 19 September. The vote had been scheduled for 19 July. The decision was taken at a meeting of negotiating MEPs on Thursday 13 July. The postponement could delay the votes scheduled in the Parliament’s Environment Committee in September, then in plenary in October. The Committee on Agriculture has two exclusive powers in this area (definitions and funding). The rapporteur, Clara Aguilera (S&D, Spanish), is finalising compromise amendments, such as postponing to 2035 (as opposed to 2030 in the initial proposal) the national and European targets for reducing the use of pesticides. In addition, the desired reference period would be 2011-2013, as opposed to 2015-2017 in the Commission’s initial proposal (see EUROPE 13210/10). (LC)