Response from the European Commission to NGOs on the Protection of Pollinators

Thirty NGOs, including BeeLife, joined together to support the European Parliament's resolution of 18 December 2019 on the EU Pollinators Initiative (2019/2803(RSP)). On the letter, signatories requested the European Commission to take the necessary steps to improve protection of pollinators. They stress the importance of pollinating insects and the possibilities to improve their environment. Several beneficial measures are included, particularly the full implementation of the EU Pollinators Initiative.

After a few months, the European Commission responded to this message. During the challenging context of the current Covid-19 crisis, the Commission has, in general, responded positively to the call for a better protection of pollinators.

A significant measure is the inclusion of a pollinator indicator to the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Although it is still under construction by the European Commission, it is acknowledged that its inclusion to the new CAP will be important. Therefore, it will be integrated "to measure the performance and monitoring framework once finalised and operational".

On a different note, the Commission also focuses on the importance of the revision of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Bee Guidance Document, which is expected to be published this year. In 2013, EFSA published a first document it and the scientific community widely recognised it as a new standard for risk assessment of plant protection products. Nevertheless, many political challenges were posed and Member States severely stalled its implementation. A new revision with the latest scientific evidence is expected during 2020, and the Commission insists on its importance for the future of risk assessment of pesticides in the future.

You may read and download the full correspondence below.

Letter from NGOs to the European Commission

Response from the European Commission