The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced this week that she will scrap a new EU law that would have required halving chemical pesticide use across the Union by 2030. 

The announcement comes amid continuing protests in Europe by farmers over farm income, anti-pollution policies and cuts in fuel subsidies. 

Stunning volte-face
The Sustainable Use of Pesticides (SUR) was a high profile bill at the heart of the Commission’s Green Deal and its commitment to transition to more sustainable agriculture models.  Politico described the development as a “stunning volte-face for the Commission”. 

Von der Leyen insisted that the Bill had been constructed around a “worthy aim”. But she said it had “become a symbol of polarisation”.

Green groups and pesticide campaigners say this polarisation has been stoked by aggressive lobbying by agrochemical interests and opportunist politicians. Pesticide Action Network Europe commented: “The polarisation is the result of fake information spread by agribusiness to preserve a model that is detrimental to the farming community. Instead of listening to science and citizens’ demands, EU Member States have been favouring agribusiness interests.”

Deeply cynical
Martin Dermine, PAN Europe executive director, concluded: “The European Commission just took a decision that is harmful to farmers and their families, as the first victims of pesticide use. Pesticide pollution is a huge problem that has to be tackled.”

Friends of the Earth Europe said that using farmers’ protests to further backtrack on environmental measures and at the EU level would be “deeply cynical”.