The EU states cannot find a common position; now the Commission can single-handedly extend the approval for ten years. Agriculture Minister Özdemir, however, insists on a national ban – much to the annoyance of the FDP.
In Europe the way is clear for the continued use of glyphosate, the most commonly used but also most controversial weed killer. As it announced on Thursday, the EU Commission will, following its own proposal, extend the approval of the active ingredient by ten years. This was preceded by another vote among the 27 member states, but like five weeks ago, the required qualified majority was not achieved. 55 percent of the states, which represent 65 percent of the population, would have had to vote for or against the Commission’s proposal. Because that wasn’t the case, the Commission has a free hand following EU rules.