On Thursday 12 October, at the meeting of the SCoPAFF Standing Committee (12-13 October), the European Commission is due to take the pulse of the Member States to identify the chances of success of its proposal for a regulation to extend the authorisation of the active substance glyphosate for a further 10 years in the EU, with the only restriction on use being a ban on pre-harvest desiccation (see EUROPE 13254/1, 13268/19).
On the eve of the meeting, German MEP Jutta Paulus (Greens/EFA) reiterated her view that it was “rather absurd” that, after a highly controversial five-year reauthorisation in 2017, “the same debate is resuming 6 years later” and that EFSA was still reporting a lack of data in its assessment of the risks to health and biodiversity.
“Member States must vote against this proposal. It goes against the European Green Deal and the precautionary principle”, she told a group of journalists.
According to the German MEP, the Commission is unlikely to be able to count on a sufficient majority to support its proposal in a vote on Friday.
Perhaps a no or an abstention from Paris. France, whose Minister of Agriculture had announced that his country would vote in favour of the proposal, could change its mind. Dissatisfied with the lack of sufficient restrictions on use, it could vote against or abstain.
“It’s not clear, but France has asked the Commission to improve its proposal and now wants an authorisation period of 7 years, with more restrictions on use”, said Ms Paulus. This last requirement was mentioned in passing by Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe, French) on 5 October at the plenary session of the European Parliament (see EUROPE 13264/5).
The link recently recognised by the French courts between a teenager’s malformations and the mother’s exposure to glyphosate when she was pregnant could have been responsible.
An alternative proposal from the Commission has already been prepared, but it is not known whether it will satisfy France or when the Commission will present it. “It depends on the Commission. In the absence of an expected majority, if I were it, I would present her as quickly as possible”, declared Ms Paulus.
Germany, whose coalition agreement provides for a ban on glyphosate in 2024, could vote against, as it had announced, but an abstention cannot be ruled out. The German Liberal Group (FDP) supports the Commission’s proposal.
Austria is still in the camp of those opposed to the proposal. Bulgaria will vote against or abstain.
Belgium and the Netherlands will abstain.
Luxembourg had announced that it would vote against, but the result of the legislative elections from 8 October could change all that.
In the absence of a qualified majority for or against on Friday 13 October, an appeal committee will be convened in November. Should it fail to approve or reject the proposal by a qualified majority of Member States, the Commission would be empowered to decide alone - a scenario that Ms Paulus considers unlikely “in such a sensitive context”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)