European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has decided to withdraw a legislative proposal that sought a big reduction in pesticide use on the continent.
Specifically, von der Leyen said this week she was giving up on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides regulation proposed as part of the Green Deal she announced in 2020. The SUR sought to cut in half the amount of pesticides used by 2030 and was a key part of the Farm to Fork initiative, which now appears to be dead in the water.
In a speech to the European Parliament, von der Leyen alluded to the widespread opposition to the SUR proposal across Europe: It “has become a symbol of polarization. It has been rejected by the European Parliament. There is no progress anymore in the [European] Council either.” She pointed to recent protests of farmers throughout Europe, saying “farmers deserve to be listened to” and need a “worthwhile business case for nature-enhancing solutions.”
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Von der Leyen said farmers’ worries about the future along with the necessity of moving to more sustainable methods “is why we launched the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture in the European Union.”
“We need to move beyond a polarized debate and to create trust. Trust is the crucial basis for viable solutions,” she said.
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