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Save Bees and Farmers

Official hearing of the Save Bees and Farmers EU Citizens Initiative in the EU Parliament

Programme & Livestream here.

 

1 Million valid votes for Save Bees and Farmers

On October 12, 2022, the EU Commission gave the official green light to the Save Bees and Farmers European citizens iniative.

1,2 Million European Citizens voted for an end to the toxic pesticide era, for restoration of biodiversity and rewarding farmers to work with nature. Out of these votes 89% - 1,1 Million - were validated by the authorities: name, address of residence, date of birth or ID number matched with the official registration. Eleven countries reached the minimum threshold. So the criteria for a successful ECI were met: over 1 Million valid votes from at least 7 countries that reach the minimum threshold.

The citizens initative was organised by Générations Futures (France), Global 2000 (Austria), Aurelia Stiftung, BUND and the Umweltinstitut München (Germany), Romapsis (Romania) and the European organisations Beelife, Friends of the Earth Europe, Pesticide Action Network PAN Europe, Slow Food International and the European Professional Beekeepers Association. It was supported by over 200 organisations from all countries in the EU, including the campaign organisations Avaaz, Campact, Pollinis, SumofUs and WeMove.

The initiative is now formally recognised. The EU Commission has invited the organisers to present their demands on November 15. Next a hearing will be planned in the EU Parliament.
We will update this page as soon as we know more.

 

Key demands

  1. A phase-out of the use of synthetic pesticides: By 2030 the use of synthetic pesticides shall be gradually reduced by 80 percent in EU agriculture. By 2035, agriculture in the entire Union shall be working without synthetic pesticides.
  2. Measures to recover biodiversity: Habitats shall be restored and agricultural areas shall become a vector of biodiversity recovery.
  3. Support for farmers: Farmers must be supported in the necessary transition towards agroecology. Small, diverse and sustainable farms shall be favoured, organic farming expanded, and research into pesticide-free and GMO-free agriculture will be supported.

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Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe) gratefully acknowledges the financial support from the European Union, European Commission, DG Environment, LIFE programme. Sole responsibility for this publication lies with the authors and the funders are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.