European Union (EU) Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the plan to reduce pesticide use by 50 percent has been abandoned following farmer protests.
EU BACKS DOWN
Von der Leyen spoke about the problems of farmers at the European Parliament (EP) Plenary session in Strasbourg.
Reminding that the Commission prepared a proposal 2 years ago to reduce the risks of chemical plant protection products, von der Leyen stated that this proposal caused polarization.
Von der Leyen recalled that a legally binding plan to reduce pesticide use by 50 percent by 2030 had been rejected by the EP and that no progress had been made in the Council, where member states are represented, and that the Commission would withdraw its proposal for a regulation.
The plan involved reducing the use of pesticides in member states to make Europe’s food system healthier and more environmentally friendly.
Under this framework, EU countries were to reduce the use of chemical pesticides by 50 percent by 2030 in a legally binding manner.
The plan was harshly criticized by farmers.
Last week, the EU drafted a proposal to exempt farmers from rules on leaving part of their land fallow.
PROTESTS CONTINUE
Farmers in European countries have been organizing massive protests recently.
Farmers demand higher prices for agricultural products in the face of rising production costs.
Complaining about the Union’s agricultural policies, environmental, climate and nature restoration targets, cuts in subsidies, high energy, fuel and fertilizer costs, cheap grain products from Ukraine and other countries, water saving measures and long bureaucratic procedures and processes, farmers demand solutions to their problems.
