End of pesticides postponed by European Comission

"The European Commission proposed the Sustainable Use Regulation with the aim of reducing the risks of chemical plant protection products. But the proposal has become a symbol of polarization. It was rejected by the European Parliament, and there has been no progress in the European Council either. That's why I'm going to propose to the College of Commissioners that they withdraw this proposal," said von der Leyen at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (France).

The RUS was presented in June 2022 with the aim of halving the use of pesticides by 2030. It also provided for a total ban on these products in sensitive areas, such as urban green spaces and environmental conservation sites under the Natura 2000 program, and promoted the adoption of low-risk alternatives.

Chemical pesticides used to maintain crop yields are considered a major source of pollution and have been linked to loss of biodiversity, poor water quality, soil degradation, pest resistance and chronic diseases.

SUR has caused divisions from the outset and has been the subject of strong pressure from the agricultural sector. Last year, the legislation was rejected by the European Parliament with 299 votes in favor, 207 against and 121 abstentions.

The proposal is currently stuck in political negotiations between member states, which indicates a serious lack of will to push it through to the final stage.

Pressure from farmers

Von der Leyen's decision comes amid a growing backlash from right-wing parties against the European Green Deal and widespread protests from farmers, who, among other grievances, criticize the burdens created by environmental regulations.

Only if our farmers can live off the land will they invest in the future. And only if we achieve our climate and environmental goals together will farmers be able to continue earning a living."

 Ursula von der Leyen
President of the European Commission

The protest movement reached Brussels last week during an EU summit, creating some chaos. Ursula von der Leyen, together with the prime ministers of Belgium and the Netherlands, met informally with representatives of the protesting agricultural sector after the summit ended.

Speaking at the plenary session today, the head of the European Commission spoke at length about farmers, saying that they "deserve to be heard" as they face the impacts of climate change, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the cost of living crisis".

But he insisted that the sector, which is responsible for more than 10% of the bloc's greenhouse gas emissions and is heavily subsidized by the EU budget (Common Agricultural Policy), must make the transition to a "more sustainable production model".

"Only if our farmers can live off the land will they invest in the future. And only if we achieve our climate and environmental goals together will farmers be able to continue making a living. Our farmers are well aware of this. We should trust them more," said the head of the EU executive.

New proposal?

The withdrawal of the bill is not immediate and still has to be ratified by the College of Commissioners, a process that should be completed in the coming weeks.

Ursula von der Leyen stressed that the issue of pesticide regulation will remain on the agenda and could be the subject of a "new, much more mature proposal".

However, due to the tight timetable imposed by the upcoming European Parliament elections in June, the new proposal will be the task of the next European Commission.

"It's clear that the issue remains and in order to move forward we need more dialogue and a different approach," von der Leyen told MEPs.

This legislation was an important part of the "Farm to Fork" strategy, presented in May 2020, which set the goal of making Europe's food systems healthier and more sustainable.

Under pressure from conservative parties and farming lobby groups, the strategy was gradually watered down. Last year, the European Commission also decided to withdraw the Sustainable Food System Act, which was supposed to be the backbone of the bloc's food policy.

Instead, the executive opted to launch a strategic dialogue on agriculture, in an attempt to reduce the growing polarization in the sector.

In the end, von der Leyen's team failed to present other pieces of agriculture-related legislation, such as new rules on farm animal welfare and EU-wide nutritional labeling of food, both of which were considered highly divisive.

Applause and criticism of the decision

COPA-COGECA, the main farmers' lobby in Brussels, applauded the decision, saying that "this top-down proposal resulting from the 'farm to fork' logic was poorly conceived, poorly evaluated, poorly financed and offered few alternatives to farmers" and called for "realistic" solutions.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who had already called for a "pause" in environmental regulation, also welcomed the withdrawal of the proposal. It is "crucial that we keep our farmers on board for a more sustainable future of agriculture, as part of our determination to deliver on the Green Deal," said De Croo on social media.

Environmental organizations, meanwhile, criticized the decision and warned that the dangerous effects caused by pesticides must be addressed through legally binding reduction targets.

"Farmers will continue to be poisoned and nature degraded, while the pesticide industry makes huge profits," said the non-governmental organization Friends of the Earth.

"We cannot afford to leave the issue of pesticides unresolved. We need real solutions now to support farmers in the transition away from toxic chemicals," it added.

Source: Euronews