A new agreement for pollinators such as bees has been presented European Commission, with the aim of an alarming reduction in the number of wild insects. Every tenth species of wild bees is threatened with extinction, with unpredictable consequences not only for agricultural production, but also for biodiversity. Like explains “K” Commissioner for Environmental Protection Virginius Sinkevičiusthe new initiative includes support for pollinator-friendly agriculture and further control of pesticides.

“About 80% of crops and wild flowers in the European Union depend, at least in part, on wild pollinators,” – says Mr. Sinkevičius “K”. (photo) “Pollinators contribute to food production in Europe. Their contribution is economically linked to food production worth 5 billion euros per year. Without them, a significant number of species will be on the verge of extinction. Therefore, the decline in pollinators directly affects our economy, our quality of life and the survival of our nature.”

The Commission recently presented “A New Deal for Pollinators”, which sets out measures to reverse the decline in the number of wild insects by 2030. Among them, the Commission will finalize plans for the conservation of threatened species of pollinators, identify pollinators characteristic of habitats protected under the Habitats Directive, which Member States must protect. And, together with Member States, will develop a plan for a network of ecological corridors for pollinators, or so-called “noise lines”. Action will also be taken to restore habitat in agricultural landscapes, in particular through greater support for pollinator-friendly agriculture through Common Agricultural Policy. Finally, pesticides will be more tightly controlled, for example, through legal requirements for the implementation of integrated plant protection, or through additional testing methods to determine the toxicity of pesticides to pollinators, including sub-lethal and chronic effects. “Scientific knowledge about pesticides and their effects is constantly improving,” says the commissioner for the environment. “The EU has one of the most comprehensive control and licensing systems in the world, requiring high safety standards for people and the environment. The EU has clear criteria for licensing pesticides before they enter the market. However, as with nicotinoids, when new scientific evidence indicates that previously licensed pesticides are harmful to pollinators, the Commission reassesses the risk and acts accordingly.”

The “key” to the effectiveness of measures is their implementation by Member States. “You need adequate resources, both human and financial, at the national and local level. The Commission provides many financial instruments, mainly through the Common Agricultural Policy, but also through the Life and Horizon programs to strengthen sustainable agricultural practices.”

The initiative will also aim to improve knowledge about pollinator decline, its causes and effects. Actions include establishing an integrated monitoring system, supporting research and assessments, for example by mapping key pollination areas by 2025, and targeted actions to promote capacity building and knowledge dissemination.

It’s all for pollinators. As regards Greece’s performance in protecting Natura 2000 sites, the commissioner is currently reticent. “The European Court condemned Greece in December 2020. Greece has not yet taken the necessary measures and has not adopted adequate conservation targets and measures. We are following this case closely and are providing support to the Greek authorities to ensure that the objectives of the EU legislation are met.”

wind farms

Mr. Sinkevičius especially stresses the need for strategic planning regarding the topic of wind farm siting, which has recently come to light due to a warning letter sent to Greece. “European legislation does not prohibit the use of RES in Natura 2000 areas. However, each plan must be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the competent national authorities. Plans must be rejected if the project threatens to compromise the integrity of protected areas. Therefore, it is very important to have a strategic plan in order to decide in which areas RES projects have the least impact on environmental protection (“transition zones”, preferred areas). The only exception is the preferred areas for biomass energy production in forests, as we do not want to risk valuable forest ecosystems.”