Stand for Bees: A New Term for Pollinator Protection and Environmental Sustainability in the European Parliament

The 2024 European elections are behind us. As we look forward to this new chapter, we stress our commitment to collaborating with MEPs to protect our environment and, crucially, our bees and pollinators. Pollinators are essential to safeguarding healthy biodiverse ecosystems and play a fundamental role in food production. However, multiple factors threaten them, including pesticides, habitat loss, and climate change. The European Parliament's role is critical in shaping policies that impact pollinators.

Recently, the European Commission and Parliament have introduced measures to backtrack on environmental policies or to wane ambition in ecological protection. However, this is not a viable option if we are to safeguard Europe's safe, sustainable, and fair future. Political groups at the Parliament will deal with crucial pollinator protection legislation, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR).

The alarming push to relax pesticide rules within the European Parliament is among the pressing issues the new legislature will encounter. Such changes would spell disaster for pollinators. We need clear and enforceable regulations to shield them from harmful chemicals and ensure our environment's health. As the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) undergoes revision, it is essential to prioritise sustainability while achieving a fair ecological transition. BeeLife calls for agricultural practices that secure the vital role of pollinators, such as reducing chemical usage through the application of Integrated Pest Management measures (IPM) and encouraging biodiversity-friendly farming.

Before the elections, we published a new tool to allow citizens to monitor MEPs' records on bee protection. This tool fosters transparency and accountability. We will maintain this work to inform citizens and incentivise MEPs to hold and strengthen their commitment to pollinator-friendly policies. Investing in research is also crucial for discovering new ways to protect pollinators and promote sustainable farming practices.

Our recent "Vote Informed" campaign underscored the importance of electing representatives dedicated to environmental sustainability. Regardless of political affiliation, it is up to the new MEPs to lead the way for a sustainable Europe, securing and enhancing measures that protect pollinators and our environment. Fundamental rights are at stake, including food security and access to a healthy environment. We at BeeLife stand as keen partners, ready to work hand-in-hand with MEPs, offering scientific expertise and fostering policy development.

This new parliamentary term comes at troubling times where short-term vision risks blurring the clarity of the long-term and valuable goals of safeguarding our bees and ecosystems. Nonetheless, this legislature also offers a unique chance to advance environmental protection. We urge all MEPs to embrace this challenge and lead Europe toward a sustainable, pollinator-friendly future. BeeLife looks forward to a productive collaboration with the new MEPs.

For more information, please get in touch with adolphe@bee-life.eu or visit www.bee-life.eu

About BeeLife

BeeLife European Beekeeping Coordination is an umbrella non-profit organisation dedicated to the protection of bees and pollinators in the European Union. Through research, advocacy, and collaboration, BeeLife works to create a sustainable environment where pollinators can thrive, ensuring biodiversity and food security in Europe.