EU pollinators initiative

9.12.2019

Question for oral answer  O-000045/2019
to the Commission
Rule 136
Mairead McGuinness, István Ujhelyi, Frédérique Ries, Martin Häusling, Luisa Regimenti, Pietro Fiocchi, Kateřina Konečná
on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

The EU pollinators initiative aims to address the decline in pollinators and contribute to global conservation efforts. However, the initiative fails to sufficiently address the main root causes behind the decline in pollinators.

• 1.We understand that the new Commission will prepare a biodiversity strategy beyond 2020. How will it ensure that there is consistency and compatibility between the EU pollinators initiative, the biodiversity strategy and post-2020 measures, the next multiannual financial framework and the new common agricultural policy (CAP)? Does it support the inclusion of a new pollinators index in the CAP?
• 2.How will it improve the implementation of the Plant Protection Products Regulation, the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive, and spur innovation on alternative methods and integrate those in the CAP? How does it intend to support the development of low-risk, including organic, pesticides that are not harmful for pollinators?
• 3.Does it intend to apply the precautionary principle by proposing legislation that bans the production, sale and use of all neonicotinoid-based pesticides throughout the Union, without derogation?
• 4.How does it plan to examine the legality of emergency derogations that allow the use of banned pesticides and what follow-up measures are planned?
• 5.Professional users of pesticides have the obligation to keep precise records of their pesticides use under Article 67 of Regulation (EC) 1107/2009. Does the Commission plan to make it a requirement for the Member States to make this data available in the public domain?
• 6.When will it publish its overdue report on the traceability of pesticide use?

Submitted: 09/12/2019

Lapses: 10/03/2020