Members of the European Parliament and European mayors who have gathered today at the European Parliament for a roundtable to discuss European policies, local strategies and future perspectives for pesticide free towns have signed a joint declaration calling on the European Institutions for a total ban on non-agricultural uses of pesticide. PAN Europe applauds the declaration and stresses the urgent need for a Europe wide ban on non-agricultural uses of pesticides.
Organised by S&D Agriculture Coordinator, Nicola Caputo, the Chair of the Special Committee on pesticides (PEST) Eric Andrieu, and the vice president of the Environment Committee Pavel Poc, the rapporteur on Sustainable Use Directive Jytte Guteland, and Pesticide Action Network Europe ( PAN Europe), the event brought together mayors of pesticide-free European towns, EU regulators and local practitioners to discuss the measures needed be taken at the EU, national, and local level in order to make pesticide-free towns a European reality. On the occasion of this event, PAN Europe, together with participating mayors, has also kicked off a new European Network of Pesticide-Free Towns[1].
A new position paper of PAN Europe published today indicates that pesticide-free towns across Europe are on the move with an ever increasing number of European cities and towns deciding to ban the use of chemical pesticides in public areas. Against this background, PAN Europe reiterates the call on the EU institutions to seriously consider the recent French Senate’s resolution[2] calling on the European Union (EU) to ban all non-agricultural use of pesticides and urges European Commission to develop a regulatory framework ensuring a full ban on non-agricultural uses of pesticides while setting up a financial instrument to accompany the non-toxic transition both at local, regional, national and EU level.
Henriette Christensen, PAN Europe Senior Policy Advisor, said: “With their presence today, mayors wanted to join their voice to ours. European Institution should hear this call and take the necessary steps to enact a law for a Europe-wide full ban on non-agricultural uses of pesticides”.
Contact PAN Europe, Henriette Christensen, +32 473 37 56 71, henriette [at] pan-europe.info
[1] www.pesticide-free-towns.info
[2] https://www.pan-europe.info/press-releases/2017/05/international-press-c...
