On November 22, the European Parliament rejected a plan to reduce agriculture's reliance on pesticides, another setback for environmental protection across Europe after a ten-year extension of the herbicide glyphosate.
With 299 votes against, 207 votes in favor, and 121 abstentions, members of the European Parliament rejected this long-term and intensely negotiated draft legislation to reduce agriculture's dependence on pesticides. The conservative European People's Party (EPP) said the veto rejected the extreme approach of the Greens and socialists to impose increasing bans and excessive regulations. This would lead to a reduction in food production in Europe, so the veto is a positive outcome.
In addition to adopting meaningless emissions reduction targets, it also removes protections for kindergartens, schools, hospitals and the elderly and removes binding rules on integrated pest management, the Greens/EFA said in a statement . The green draft was ultimately not supported as key areas were significantly weakened.
In addition, the proposal for the Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products Regulation (SUR), which will be re-submitted to the parliamentary environment committee, was also rejected.
