Brussels, 28/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 24 April, the European Parliament did not succeed in obtaining a qualified majority during the second reading on the compromise the Council and EP environment committee had reached on statistics on phyto-pharmaceutical products. This situation obviously poses a problem, insofar as there is only one session left under this legislature where the compromise could be approved by MEPs. This possibility, according to Bart Staes (Greens/EFA, Belgium), the rapporteur, cannot be ruled out because the compromise was not obtained due to the absence of some of the MEPs during the session. Parliament, on the other hand, did adopt a series of amendments submitted by the Greens/EFA, EPP-ED, ALDE, GUE/NGL, IND/DEM and PES. The Council and Bart Staes, on behalf of the environment committee, managed to find some common ground on certain controversial subjects such as the field of application for the regulation (restriction on phyto-pharmaceutical products and the inclusion of non-agricultural use). This regulation is expected to complete the other recent initiatives on pesticides. (O.L./trans/rh)