ER Editor: Von der Leyen (whom we don’t believe is currently at liberty to say anything) has apparently caved in over a part of the Green Deal in response to anger from farmers, but not in a way which is making normal-minded people happy. The requirement to stop using, or lessen the use of, toxic pesticides – that the Green Deal required – has been withdrawn. Making it acceptable to continue using these pesticides. This news in the last 24 hours has been received with a kind of ‘say what?!’ response from the public.
We confess that the language used to discuss these issues leaves us confused and cold. Rarely does anybody come right out and say ‘pesticides are very toxic to humans, and for that reason alone, they should be stopped’. Instead we hear vagueries about ‘degradation of nature’ or ‘carbon footprint’, &etc.
Overall, the climate nonsense in the EU appears to be in the process of collapse at the highest levels. The withdrawal of this pesticide bill is at least part of this dismantling.
Politico.eu also covered this. See —
Ursula von der Leyen scraps pesticide reduction bill, in gift to farmers
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Von der Leyen withdraws contentious pesticide law amid right-wing backlash and farmer protests
JORGE LIBOREIRO & GERARDO FORTUNA
Ursula von der Leyen announced on Tuesday the withdrawal of a contentious law that aimed to reduce the use of pesticides across the European Union, marking the first defeat of the Green Deal.
The so-called Sustainable Use Regulation (SUR) was first tabled in June 2022 with the ambitious goal of slashing by half the use of pesticides by 2030. It also envisioned the total prohibition of these products in sensitive areas, such as urban green spaces and Natura 2000 sites, and promoted the uptake of low-risk alternatives.
Chemical pesticides employed to maintain crop yields are considered a major source of pollution and have been linked to biodiversity loss, poor-quality water, degraded soils, pest resistance and chronic illnesses.
SUR proved divisive from its inception and became the object of fierce lobbying from the agricultural sector. Last year, it was rejected by the European Parliament with 299 votes in favour, 207 against and 121 abstentions, and is currently stuck in political negotiations among member states, signalling a very low appetite to push it over the finish line.
“The Commission proposed SUR, with the worthy aim to reduce the risks of chemical plant protection products,” von der Leyen said on Tuesday, speaking before the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
“But the SUR proposal has become a symbol of polarisation. It has been rejected by the European Parliament. There is no progress anymore in the Council either. That is why I will propose to the College to withdraw this proposal.”
Von der Leyen’s decision comes amid a growing right-wing backlash against the European Green Deal and widespread protests of furious farmers, who, among other grievances, complained about the burden created by environmental regulation.
The contestation movement reached Brussels last week during a high-stakes summit of EU leaders, creating scenes of chaos and destruction. Von der Leyen, together with the prime ministers of Belgium and the Netherlands, attended an improvised meeting with representatives from the agricultural sector right after the summit ended.
During her speech on Tuesday morning, the Commission chief spoke at length about farmers, saying they “deserve to be listened to” as they face the ravages of climate change, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis.
But she insisted the sector, which accounts for over 10% of the bloc’s greenhouse gas emissions and is heavily subsidised through the EU budget, needs to transition towards a “more sustainable model of production.”
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CONTINUE READING HERE
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