The EU Commission has failed in its attempt to drastically reduce the use of pesticides by 2030. The conservative parliamentary groups in particular campaigned against the law.
The European Parliament has overturned a law to reduce the use of pesticides in the EU. In Strasbourg, MEPs voted against the EU Commission’s proposal to reduce usage by half by 2030 compared to the average for the years 2013 to 2017. Parliament rejected further negotiations with a narrow majority.
The draft also envisaged a 65 percent reduction in funds defined as “hazardous.” The Commission recently argued that EU countries must ensure that chemical pesticides are only used as a last resort.
Farmers’ association speaks of “unrealistic” Draft
The European farmers’ association Copa-Cogeca welcomed the decision against the law: Parliament finally recognizes that pesticide regulation is “poorly adapted, unrealistic and unfunded,” explained the association’s chairwoman, Christiane Lambert.
After numerous amendments from the conservative groups in parliament, the Enwturf had already been significantly weakened. Conservative MPs had warned of high restrictions for farmers. “We have to find solutions together with and not against agriculture,” explained CDU MP Norbert Lins.
Greens: “Black day” for nature
It was a “black day” for nature and for farmers in Europe, said parliamentary rapporteur Sarah Wiener (Greens) after the vote. The majority of MPs put the profits of large agricultural companies above health and the environment.
The environmental organization BUND spoke of a loss “for people and nature as well as food security”. After the new approval for the weed killer glyphosate was announced last week, the decision against the pesticide law was “another setback,” explained BUND chairman Olaf Bandt.
Among other things, the law envisaged introducing a complete ban on plant protection products in particularly sensitive areas such as urban parks, schools and Natura 2000 areas. The Commission could now make a new proposal for the law. However, this is considered unlikely.
Glyphosate approval has already been extended
The EU Commission had already decided to extend the weed killer glyphosate last week. The pesticide can now be used in the EU for another ten years. But there will be new requirements and restrictions, they say.
The previous approval would have expired in mid-December. Because the member states were unable to form a majority on the procedure in the appeals committee’s votes, the commission was allowed to decide on its own.
Holger Beckmann, ARD Brussels, tagesschau, November 22nd, 2023 5:27 p.m