Socialists and Democrats welcome the decision taken by a majority of the 28 national experts to back the ban on neo-nicotinoid pesticides. The S&D Group recently led the European Parliament’s demand to exclude all pesticides with scientifically proven negative effects on bees, and have fully supported the citizens’ petition to introduce such a ban.
S&D vice-president for sustainability, Kathleen Van Brempt MEP, said:
"This is wonderful news and it shows that together we can change things. The current agricultural and food-production model is not sustainable, or even healthy, and there is a general clamour to transform it.
“In a recent letter, S&D MEPs asked the Commission to put pressure on the member states to back a ban. Meanwhile, some 5 million Europeans have signed a petition to ask the member states to protect the bees. Our political pressure, in full support of citizens' demands, led to several member states changing their initial opposition and they are now willing to take an important step to ensure a sustainable environment, to preserve biodiversity and to promote a healthy food production.
“It looks like more and more governments in Europe have started to realise the need for a new development model that is fair and sustainable. We, Socialists and Democrats, will keep trying to unite all the forces and energies of those who are ready to shape that change.”
