Press releases
(Brussels, 14 June 2017) PAN Europe welcomes today’s successful vote on the Commission Delegated Regulation proposing to ban pesticides in Ecological Focus Areas that took place in the European Parliament’s plenary session.
(Brussels, Paris, 31 May 2017) Today, on the occasion of the international press conference in Paris hosted by Senator Joël Labbé marking the unanimous adoption of the European resolution to ban non-agricultural pesticides across Europe[1] by the French Senate, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe and Générations Futures warmly welcome the resolution and call on the Parliaments of other EU Member States to adopt similar resolutions.
A MASSIVE MISSED OPPORTUNITY: PAN Europe Reaction to EP Agriculture Committee Voting on Commission Delegated Regulation Proposing to Ban Pesticides on Ecological Focus Areas
(30 May 2017, Brussels) Today, the Agriculture Committee (COMAGRI) has voted in favour of the resolution against the ban of pesticides in ecological focus areas (EFAs). PAN Europe finds the vote outrageous and shameful which completely ignores the overall purpose of EFAs which is to bring benefits for the environment and, safeguard and improve biodiversity on farms.
Commission Staff Working Document on Agriculture and Sustainable Water Management in the EU: an EEB & PAN Europe reaction.
The Commission has produced a Staff Working Document on Water and Agriculture (SWD(2017)153 final) which it will present in the informal meeting of Agriculture Ministers in Malta on the 23rd of May. The working document is the outcome of a collaboration between the environment department and the agriculture department of the Commission on the matter. Some key extracts of the document include:
(Brussels, 28 April) Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe, Inter-Environnement Wallonie and the Velt welcome the proposal of Agriculture Minister Mr Borsus to ban placing of glyphosate-based herbicides on the market for non-professional users by the end of 2017 and restrict their use in private gardens.
Brussels, 12-4-2017
In February 2016 EU Ombudsman ruled that the European Commission health service DG SANTE violated the precautionary principle by approving pesticides with serious data gaps and high risks. Data gaps observed by Food Authority EFSA and high risks should have made it impossible for DG SANTE to conclude that harmful effects to humans are absent as well as unacceptable effects to the environment. Still they did and most pesticides were approved with data gaps and high risks for the environment. Deciding on an approval while crucial data are missing (or while high risks are observed) is unlawful and contrary to the principles of good administration, according to the Ombudsman.
(Brussels, 28 March) Today, Joël Labbé, Senator of Morbihan and Vice-President of the Commission of Economic Affairs in France, has launched an EU proposal for banning pesticides use outside agriculture. Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe warmly welcomes this initiative, as pesticides are not only used in the agricultural sector, but also in private gardens, public parks, playgrounds, sidewalks, graveyards, sport fields, railways, to name a few. Continue reading>>
Tomorrow, 27 March 2017, another Forum for the Future of Agriculture (FFA) conference, jointly organized by the European Landowners Organisation (ELO) and Syngenta, will be hosted at the Square in Brussels. As this year’s topic is ‘time for solutions’, it would be the right moment to also talk about the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), as CAP reform discussions have already started.
Bee-killing Neonicotinoids: European Commission proposal for a complete ban
Today, 23 March 2017, the European Commission has presented to the Member States its draft regulations to ban neonicotinoids. A vote by Member State could take place in May.
