Farmer protests in the EU: Ursula von der Leyen wants to withdraw a bill against pesticides

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Ursula von der Leyen: “I will suggest withdrawing the draft”

Photo: Frederick Florin / AFP

The EU will not introduce an environmental protection law against the high use of pesticides for the time being. "I will suggest withdrawing the draft," said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Von der Leyen described it as a legitimate goal to reduce the risks posed by chemical pesticides. But the proposal was polarizing. She will therefore suggest to her colleagues in the Commission that they withdraw it.

The EU Commission's goal was to significantly restrict the use of pesticides in the coming years. Specifically, the burden should be reduced by a total of 50 percent by 2030 with the aim of slowing the rampant extinction of species. However, the proposal was rejected in the EU Parliament in November. And there are also debates among the EU states.

Von der Leyen wants to develop a new proposal

However, von der Leyen announced that the topic was not off the table. In exchange with those affected such as farmers or environmental organizations, the Commission could present a new proposal.

Around four months before the European elections, von der Leyen is taking a further step towards farmers who feel disproportionately pressured by EU environmental regulations. In the past few weeks, farmers have demonstrated - sometimes violently - against EU rules, among other things.

Protests continue in several EU countries

Meanwhile, the protests continued. Hundreds of Dutch farmers blocked several highways in the country, as the police announced on Monday evening on the portal X (formerly Twitter). In some cases they set dumped hay bales and car tires on fire or set off fireworks. Farmers also dumped manure, manure and waste on streets and in front of town halls. In several places, safety for other road users was not guaranteed.

In Latvia, thousands of demonstrators called for a ban on Russian grain imports into the EU on Monday. "The EU allows the import of Russian blood grain into our common market," Juris Lazdins, an organizer of the protests, told the AFP news agency in Jelgava. Farmers also called for a reduction in bureaucracy and a reduction in VAT on locally grown fruits and berries during the campaigns in a total of 16 cities.

Meanwhile, Italian farmers demanded a meeting with a government minister. Tractors from Tuscany made their way to the capital Rome on Monday, where 1,500 to 2,000 tractors are expected by Friday, the Movement for Agricultural Renewal said.

kko/dpa/AFP