The farmers’ protests in many European countries are also occupying the EU Parliament in Strasbourg this week. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced to EU parliamentarians on Tuesday that she wants to withdraw the controversial SUR regulation on the use of plant protection products.
MEPs rejected in November the planned reduction of pesticides in the EU by 50 percent by 2030. The Commission proposed the SUR Regulation with the aim of reducing the risks associated with the use of chemical plant protection products. “But the proposal was polarizing,” said Von der Leyen.
However, the subject is not yet off the table
No further progress has been made in the Council after the European Parliament: “I will therefore propose to my colleagues in the Commission to withdraw the proposal.” However, the issue is not off the table: the Commission, together with other stakeholders, will come up with a more mature proposal, Von der Leyen said.
The head of the Commission, like European Council President Charles Michel, called for a joint dialogue with those involved in agriculture. “It’s about overcoming the polarization of the debate,” said Von der Leyen. Farmers need attractive economic incentives for nature conservation measures.
“Only if we achieve our climate and environmental protection goals together will farmers be able to sustain their livelihoods.” The agricultural and food industry needs sustainable perspectives, says Von der Leyen.
The SUR vote failed in November
The controversial plant protection products regulation SUR (the abbreviation stands for Sustainable Use, Regulation, note) surprisingly failed in the vote in the EU Parliament on November 22. The regulation would include far-reaching reductions and bans on plant protection products in the EU by 2030.
Source: Krone
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