EU Abandons Proposal to Reduce Pesticide Use in Response to European Farmers' Protests

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has declared plans to abandon a proposal that aimed to cut pesticide use by half across the European Union (EU). This decision is seen as a concession to farmers who have been protesting against various regulations, including the proposed reduction in pesticide use. Von der Leyen stated that the original proposal had become a "symbol of polarization". The formal approval of this reversal is still required. Farmers in several EU countries, such as France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, have been demonstrating against various grievances, including the reduction in pesticide use. They argue that this reduction would have a negative impact on their crops, thereby jeopardizing food production in the EU. Von der Leyen acknowledged the concerns of farmers, stating that "our farmers deserve to be listened to" and that she understands their worries about the future of agriculture. However, Von der Leyen emphasized that the issue of pesticide use remains noteworthy, and further discussions are necessary before a new proposal to reduce pesticides can be put forward. The EU had initially aimed to halve the use of these chemicals by 2030 as part of its Green Deal, which addresses climate change. The proposal also included a ban on pesticide usage in public parks, gardens, schools, and sports fields. However, the plan faced difficulties and was rejected by the European Parliament in November. The decision to scrap the proposal has been welcomed by some, including the European farmers' lobby COPA-COGECA, whose president, Christiane Lambert, stated that the EU Commission had "finally acknowledged that the approach was not the right one". On the other hand, Green MEP Bas Eickhout criticized the U-turn and called on Von der Leyen to develop a new plan for reducing pesticide use, stating that it would be beneficial for both farmers and the environment. The EU is facing increasing pressure from member states to reassess its climate change approach due to escalating farmer protests. In response, the EU recommended slashing net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, compared to 2015 levels, but reduced the specific demands on the agricultural sector. The announcement, however, failed to satisfy critics who view the EU targets as "unrealistic ambitions". Last week, the EU made its first concession to farmers by announcing a delay in implementing rules that would require them to leave parts of their land unused to protect the environment. Despite this, the protests continue, with farmers in Spain, Bulgaria, and Greece taking to the streets to demand more flexibility from the EU, tighter controls on non-EU produce, and increased government assistance.