Von der Leyen's announcement that makes tractors happy:«EU withdraws proposed law on pesticides»

For weeks, farmers have been on a war footing against EU environmental policy which calls on the sector to halve the use of pesticides by 2030

The EU has given in (partially) to tractors.Today, from the plenary of the European Parliament, the president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced "the withdrawal" of the legislative proposal on pesticides.«Our farmers deserve to be listened to.I know they are worried about the future of agriculture and their future.But they also know that agriculture must transition to a more sustainable production model, so that their companies remain profitable for years to come."Von der Leyen herself recognized that the Union regulation has become a symbol of polarization, announcing a new, "more mature" one in the weeks to come.The leader of the European executive spoke at length about the protests of farmers, who in recent weeks have brought their tractors to many cities in Europe, from Rome to Brussels passing through Sanremo, to express their dissent towards the European Agricultural Policy.

«Public subsidies»

Still speaking of farmers, von der Leyen recognized that many of them "feel cornered".«Farmers are the first to feel the effects of climate change.Drought and floods have destroyed crops and threatened livestock.Farmers are feeling the impact of the Russian war.Inflation, the increase in the cost of energy and fertilizers.Nonetheless, they work hard every day to produce the quality food we eat.For this, we owe them appreciation, thanks and respect,” he underlined.The leader of the community executive spoke of "a valid argument" to be given to farmers to implement measures to protect biodiversity and nature, declaring that "public subsidies can provide such incentives".In front of the plenary session, he hypothesized "premium labelling, for example in collaboration with retailers and processors".

Why farmers are protesting

The legislative proposal whose withdrawal von der Leyen announced is part of the achievement of the objectives that the EU has set itself with the European Green Deal, a strategy with which all member states will have to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.Among the objectives is to halve the use of pesticides by 2030, in order to reach the intermediate objective of a 55% reduction in emissions by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.All of this influences European Agricultural Policy, the main instrument through which the European Union regulates subsidies for the sector.As von der Leyen points out, the bill on pesticides was already in place stranded in the vote in the European Parliament in November 2023, being rejected by 299 votes to 207.Agriculture is responsible for 11% of the Union's emissions.On the night between 5 and 6 February, Political had already revealed that 2040 climate targets would be relaxed in light of farmer protests.