The European Parliament’s plenary session has rejected the European Commission’s proposal to reduce the use of all chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030, news that environmental organizations regret. A total of 299 MPs voted in plenary to reject the amended Brussels proposal, 207 supported the proposal and a further 121 abstained.
With this vote, Parliament has completed its first reading, although the Council still needs to decide on its own position on the proposal to decide whether to reject it definitively or send it back to Parliament for a second reading.
The European Parliament has effectively rejected the text, although eHe endorsed the Parliamentary Environment Commission on October 24thwhich also advocated a reduction in the use of the “most dangerous” products by up to 65% compared to the average for the 2015-2017 period.
MEPs on the Environment Committee advocated banning the use of chemical pesticides – with the exception of those approved for organic farming and biological control – in sensitive areas and within a buffer zone of five meters, like all green spaces. Urban areas, including parks, playgrounds, Recreational areas, public paths and areas in the Natura 2000 network.