Plans to scrap proposals halving pesticide use across the European Union (EU) have been announced by the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
Farmers in many EU countries have been protesting against regulations to reduce pesticide use. The reduction in the amount of pesticide allowed will negatively impact their crops and therefore put food production in the EU at risk, they argue.
As part of its Green Deal, the EU planned to halve the use of chemicals by 2030, which included banning pesticides in areas such as public parks and gardens, schools and sports fields.
The scrapping of this proposal has been supported by some, including the European farmers' lobby COPA-COGECA, with its president appreciating the decision to "acknowledge that the approach was not the right one" and that it was "poorly designed, poorly evaluated, poorly financed, and offered little alternatives to farmers,".
However, the decision has not been backed by all parties as Green MEP Bas Eickhout was against the change and urged for a new plan reducing pesticide use.
Protests are continuing across EU countries. In Spain and Bulgaria on Tuesday farmers are taking to the streets demanding more flexibility from the EU, tighter controls on the produce of non-EU countries and more help from their government.
Greek farmers have also been discussing the possibility of blocking key roads in order to try and force the government to agree to their demands.
