EU measures taken to protect wild pollinators have been “too weak to bear fruit”, according to a new report from the European Court of Auditors (ECA).
The report found that the biodiversity strategy up to 2020 has been largely ineffective and does not help to protect wild pollinators. In addition, key EU policies, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), do not include specific requirements for the protection of wild pollinators.
Pollinators such as bees, wasps, hoverflies, butterflies, moths and beetles greatly contribute to increasing the quantity and quality of our food. However, in recent decades, wild pollinators have declined in abundance and in diversity, largely due to intensive agriculture and the use of pesticides.
“These pollinators play an essential role in plant reproduction and ecosystem functions, and their decline should be seen as a major threat to our environment, agriculture and quality food supply”, said Samo Jereb, the member of the ECA responsible for the report.
Part of the problem
As far as the CAP is concerned, the auditors consider that it is part of the problem, not part of the solution. The report states: “Greening and cross compliance requirements under the CAP have not been effective in halting the decline of biodiversity on farmland.”
Wild pollinators have declined in abundance and in diversity, largely due to intensive agriculture and the use of pesticides
The auditors also emphasise that current EU legislation on pesticides has been unable to offer adequate measures to protect wild pollinators and is a main cause of their loss.
The report highlights that EU framework has allowed member states to continue using pesticides thought to be responsible for massive honeybee losses. Between 2013 and 2019, 206 emergency authorisations were granted for the use of three neonicotinoids, even though their application has been strictly banned for outdoor use since 2018.
The ECA outlined a number of recommendations to the European Commission:
Assess the need for specific measures for wild pollinators in the 2021 follow-up actions and measures for the EU biodiversity strategy to 2030. Better integrate action to protect wild pollinators into EU policy instruments addressing biodiversity conservation and agriculture. Improve the protection of wild pollinators in the pesticides risk-assessment process.
EU measures taken to protect wild pollinators have been “too weak to bear fruit”, according to a new report from the European Court of Auditors (ECA).
The report found that the biodiversity strategy up to 2020 has been largely ineffective and does not help to protect wild pollinators. In addition, key EU policies, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), do not include specific requirements for the protection of wild pollinators.
Pollinators such as bees, wasps, hoverflies, butterflies, moths and beetles greatly contribute to increasing the quantity and quality of our food. However, in recent decades, wild pollinators have declined in abundance and in diversity, largely due to intensive agriculture and the use of pesticides.
“These pollinators play an essential role in plant reproduction and ecosystem functions, and their decline should be seen as a major threat to our environment, agriculture and quality food supply”, said Samo Jereb, the member of the ECA responsible for the report.
Part of the problem
As far as the CAP is concerned, the auditors consider that it is part of the problem, not part of the solution. The report states: “Greening and cross compliance requirements under the CAP have not been effective in halting the decline of biodiversity on farmland.”
Wild pollinators have declined in abundance and in diversity, largely due to intensive agriculture and the use of pesticides
The auditors also emphasise that current EU legislation on pesticides has been unable to offer adequate measures to protect wild pollinators and is a main cause of their loss.
The report highlights that EU framework has allowed member states to continue using pesticides thought to be responsible for massive honeybee losses. Between 2013 and 2019, 206 emergency authorisations were granted for the use of three neonicotinoids, even though their application has been strictly banned for outdoor use since 2018.
The ECA outlined a number of recommendations to the European Commission:
Assess the need for specific measures for wild pollinators in the 2021 follow-up actions and measures for the EU biodiversity strategy to 2030. Better integrate action to protect wild pollinators into EU policy instruments addressing biodiversity conservation and agriculture. Improve the protection of wild pollinators in the pesticides risk-assessment process. 
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