Bees & bugs: Europe's urgent need to strengthen the protection of biodiversity against pesticides

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Hosted by the NGOs PAN Europe and Pollinis, along with MEPs César Luena (S&D) and Sebastian Everding (The Left), this event will bring together scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders to address the urgent lack of protection for bees and other vital arthropods in the EU from the effects of pesticides.

Date: Tuesday, 15 July 2025

Time: 12:00 - 14:30 CET

Location: European Parliament and online

Language: English

Programme:

Opening remarks

  • Host MEPs César Luena and Sebastian Everding
  • Moderator: Karl Falkenberg, previous Director-General of DG ENVI (2009-2015).
  • Introductory speaker: Dr. Alexandre Barraud, Research Manager at Pollinis.

Section 1: State of play on the protection of bees in the EU

Why is pollination so important?

  • Dr. Alexandre Barraud, Research Manager at Pollinis

Pollination and pollinator health in agricultural landscapes

  • Prof. Mark J.F. Brown, Coordinator of the PoshBee research project
  • Dr. Jessica Knapp, Lead author of the PoshBee study

The Bee Guidance Document saga: 12 Years later, still not implemented!

  • Dr. Noa Simon Delso, Scientific Director & Project Manager, BeeLife

Neonicotinoids: Abuse of derogations in Romania

  • Constantin Dobrescu, Vice-President of Romapis

Q&A

Coffee Break

Section 2: Arthropods must be protected

Arthropods and their services to agriculture and ecosystems

  • Prof. Dave Goulson, Professor of Biology, University of Sussex

German Environment Agency’s perspective on the protection of arthropods in the EU / NTA Guidance Document

  • Representative of the German Environment Agency (UBA) (tbc)

Urgent need for a science-based and independent upgrade of the Guidance Document on non-target arthropods

  • Barbara Berardi, Senior Policy Officer on Biodiversity, PAN Europe

Q&A

Panel discussion

  • Mr. Tobin Robinson, Head of Risk Assessment Production Department, European Food Safety Authority 
  • Representative of the German Environment Agency Representative (UBA)
  • Dr. Marie-Pierre Chauzat, Head of the European Reference Laboratory for Honeybee Health
  • Barbara Berardi, PAN Europe
  • Constantin Dobrescu, Romapis

Concluding remarks

  • Host MEP (MEP Nicolae Ștefănuță, tbc)
  • Karl Falkenberg
  • Barbara Berardi, PAN Europe

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RECORDING (available after the event)

© Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe), Rue de la Pacification 67, 1000, Brussels, Belgium, Tel. +32 2 318 62 55

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.