EU Pollinators Initiative

On 1 June 2018, the European Commission adopted a Communication on the first-ever EU initiative on wild pollinators. The Initiative sets strategic objectives and a set of actions to be taken by the EU and its Member States to address the decline of pollinators in the EU and contribute to global conservation efforts. It sets the framework for an integrated approach to the problem and a more effective use of existing tools and policies. The initiative sets long-term objectives (towards 2030), and short-term actions under three priorities:

1. Improving knowledge of pollinator decline, its causes and consequences
2. Tackling the causes of pollinator decline
3. Raising awareness, engaging society-at-large and promoting collaboration

The actions will be finalized by the end of 2020. The Commission will then undertake a review, and based on this consider any future follow-up.

For more information about the initiative:

• Communication on the EU Pollinators Initiative
• Commission Staff Working Document on the EU Pollinators Initiative
• Press release
• Questions and answers
• Brochure on the EU Pollinators Initiative 
  

  

For information about pollinator conservation actions undertaken across the EU:

• Main pollinator communication page
• EU Pollinator Information Hive

 

Inter-institutional feedback

The European Parliament addressed the EU Pollinators Initiative on 18 December 2019:

• European Parliament resolution of 18 December 2019 on the EU Pollinators Initiative (2019/2803(RSP))

The Council of the European Union addressed the EU Pollinators Initiative on 9 October 2018:

• Council conclusions adopted by the Council at its 3640th meeting held on 9 October 2018 (12948/18)

 

Development of the EU Pollinators Initiative

The Commission consulted broadly stakeholders during the development of the initiative in 2018. The consultation aimed to ensure that all relevant stakeholders with an interest in pollinators and pollination had an opportunity to express their views on the problem of pollinator declines and an EU approach to tackle it. It also collected additional evidence and insights in order to inform specific elements of the initiative.

Given the broad public interest in this subject, a wide range of stakeholders was consulted including citizens, scientists, environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs), farmers, farmers' associations and farm advisors, beekeepers, rural communities, the agro- and food industry, landscape architects, educational institutions and public authorities.

• Synopsis report on the consultation activities

The consultation included the following activities:

Public consultation: A public consultation took place between 11 January 2018 and 5 April 2018 in the form of an online questionnaire. It was available in 23 EU languages. A total of 66 579 responses were received.

• Factsheet
• Summary of the results of the public consultation
• All responses to the public consultation are available on the public consultation website.

Consultation of experts: A 2-day workshop took place on 15 and 16 March 2018 in Brussels. Through seven sessions, it addressed various aspects of the problem of pollinator declines and how the EU can tackle it. More than 100 experts provided additional evidence, experience and technical expertise in specific fields, which will inform the development of the initiative, including from Member States administrations, research and academia, environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the business sector including farming and beekeeping sector, food industry, landscape architecture, urban management, and spatial planning.

• Workshop report