The European Commission has been called on to “adopt legislation to maintain and improve habitats for insects as indicators of an undamaged environment”.
The call for legislation was made in a European Citizen's Initiative lodged last week called ‘Save the bees! Protection of biodiversity and improvement of habitats for insects in Europe’.
Under EU treaties, the EU can take legal action in areas such as the internal market or agricultural policy, as well as the protection of public health and the quality of the environment.
The Commission therefore considers this 'save the bees' initiative legally admissible and has decided to register it.
The Commission has not analysed the substance of the initiative at this stage.
This initiative calls for the:
Creation of mandatory targets to make the promotion of biodiversity an overall objective of the common agricultural policy.Reduction in use of harmful pesticides without exception and reform eligibility criteria.Promotion of structural diversity in agricultural landscapes.Effective establishment of conservation areas.Intensification of research and monitoring of the insect population with improvement in education.The initiative will be registered on 27 May and this will start a year-long process of collecting signatures of support by the organisers.
If the initiative receives one million statements of support within one year from at least seven different member states, the Commission will have to reply within three months.
European Citizens' Initiatives allow one million citizens from at least one quarter of EU member states to invite the European Commission to propose a legal act in areas where the Commission has the power to do so.
Host a hive
Meanwhile, junior Minister for Agriculture Andrew Doyle has launched a “Host a hive, help the honey bee” initiative.
The Department is writing to all owners of a woodland created or restored under the Native Woodland Scheme to invite them to contact a beekeeping association if they are interested in hosting a hive or a number of hives.
The scheme involves no effort, or cost, for the land owner as the beekeepers carry their own insurance, supply the hives and maintain them. Participation benefits the land-owner, by increased pollination in the woodland, and the potential to further develop local honey-producing enterprises similar to Wicklow’s ‘Nectar Way’ agri-food tourism initiative, the Department has suggested.
Its headquarters on Dublin's Kildare St have set an example with hives recently installed on the office building.
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The European Commission has been called on to “adopt legislation to maintain and improve habitats for insects as indicators of an undamaged environment”.
The call for legislation was made in a European Citizen's Initiative lodged last week called ‘Save the bees! Protection of biodiversity and improvement of habitats for insects in Europe’.
Under EU treaties, the EU can take legal action in areas such as the internal market or agricultural policy, as well as the protection of public health and the quality of the environment.
The Commission therefore considers this 'save the bees' initiative legally admissible and has decided to register it.
The Commission has not analysed the substance of the initiative at this stage.
This initiative calls for the:
Creation of mandatory targets to make the promotion of biodiversity an overall objective of the common agricultural policy.Reduction in use of harmful pesticides without exception and reform eligibility criteria.Promotion of structural diversity in agricultural landscapes.Effective establishment of conservation areas.Intensification of research and monitoring of the insect population with improvement in education.The initiative will be registered on 27 May and this will start a year-long process of collecting signatures of support by the organisers.
If the initiative receives one million statements of support within one year from at least seven different member states, the Commission will have to reply within three months.
European Citizens' Initiatives allow one million citizens from at least one quarter of EU member states to invite the European Commission to propose a legal act in areas where the Commission has the power to do so.
Host a hive
Meanwhile, junior Minister for Agriculture Andrew Doyle has launched a “Host a hive, help the honey bee” initiative.
The Department is writing to all owners of a woodland created or restored under the Native Woodland Scheme to invite them to contact a beekeeping association if they are interested in hosting a hive or a number of hives.
The scheme involves no effort, or cost, for the land owner as the beekeepers carry their own insurance, supply the hives and maintain them. Participation benefits the land-owner, by increased pollination in the woodland, and the potential to further develop local honey-producing enterprises similar to Wicklow’s ‘Nectar Way’ agri-food tourism initiative, the Department has suggested.
Its headquarters on Dublin's Kildare St have set an example with hives recently installed on the office building.
Read more
What does sustainability mean for dairy farmers?
More to sustainability than just carbon footprint
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