Economy – Von der Leyen proposes scrapping pesticide reduction plan as a gift to farmers

First modification: 02/06/2024 – 18:20

This would be the first major defeat of the EU Green Deal. The European commissioner considered that the bill, which is on its way to being shelved, is a “symbol of polarization” as farmers protest the increase in costs and injustices that they have denounced in the streets.

For the European leader, although the intention regarding the sustainable use of phytosanitary products was a “noble action”, the proposal has not had much support, but, on the contrary, has added to heating up the stoked protests.

“It has been rejected by the European Parliament, there is no progress in the Council either… Therefore, we have to do something and that is why I will propose that this proposal be withdrawn,” Von der Leyen said from Strasbourg, France.

What did the regulation require and why did it bother farmers?

Known as the Sustainable Use Regulations (SUR), the bill was first officially introduced in June 2022 with the ambitious goal of halving the use of pesticides by 2030 and contemplating an absolute ban in sensitive areas such as urban green spaces. In return, the EU proposed low-risk alternative products.

And these products used by farmers have a high chemical content and although they help maintain crop yields, they have been classified as a major source of pollution.

Its use is linked to deterioration of biodiversity, poor water quality and soil degradation.

For farmers, on the other hand, the measure was interpreted as a threat and they have argued that following this rule would mean an increase in bureaucratic burdens and an increase in administrative tasks above those on the land, which would increase the price gap. among its products.

“Farmers need a worthwhile type of business for nature improvement measures. Perhaps we have not made that case convincingly,” Von der Leyen said. “To move forward, more dialogue and a different approach is needed,” he added.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo welcomed the move.

Discontent continues

Although in some countries like France the blockades were lifted in key points of the country, after the Government promised close to 300 million in additional financial support, in other EU countries the anger towards parliamentarians continues.

From the early hours of Tuesday, farmers across Spain staged protests on tractors, blocking roads and causing traffic jams to demand changes to EU policies and funds and measures to combat rising production costs.

Protests that came after the Ministry of Agriculture announced some $290 million in aid to some 140,000 farmers to respond to financial emergencies due to drought and supply problems due to the war between Russia and Ukraine.

For the Spanish, the European market must seek fair competition while free trade agreements are increasing and subject the industry to importing agricultural products at lower prices.

Added to this claim is that countries outside the bloc are not subject to European legislation, which is considered restrictive by locals.

It turns out that here we cannot use certain phytosanitary products or certain fertilizers, but in other areas outside the European Union, they do use them, so they have larger harvests, greater production, with much lower costs, and they enter here at infinitely lower prices. than those we have in the European Union, so it is in no way a way to compete. “In this way, all farmers are doomed to failure.”Fernando Alcázar, a farmer from Spain, told the AFP agency.

This same Tuesday, agricultural groups in Belgium also became active. Farm workers added fuel to their protests by taking their heavy vehicles from the fields to the main highways and border crossings.

A joint action that came after farmers refused to accept the proposal for government support, arguing that it was not enough to compensate them for losses due to the war in Ukraine, higher production costs, climatic conditions and the requirements of the Green Pact.

With AP, Reuters and AP