MEPs debate on a European citizens’ initiative on phasing out synthetic pesticides and creating bee-friendly agriculture. Closing statement Mairead MCGUINNESS, European Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability, and Capital Markets Union.

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

McGUINNESS, Mairead (EPP, IE)

EU's beekeeping sector (T)

European Citizens’ Initiative "Save bees and farmers! Towards a bee-friendly agriculture for a healthy environment": closing statement by Mairead MCGUINNESS, European Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability, and Capital Markets Union

SOUNDBITE (English), Mairead MCGUINNESS, Commissioner, Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union, Thank you, President. Thank you, colleagues, for what was really interesting debate and a very timely one. And I think the number of speakers in this debate shows how there is really huge interest in it, and rightly so. It's about bees, farmers, but it's about food. I think also and you acknowledge this, the Citizens Initiative is a really powerful tool to get people involved in EU policymaking.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mairead MCGUINNESS, Commissioner, Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union, And if you look at this Citizens initiative, it is very much in sync with the Commission's ongoing efforts to address the decline of biodiversity and accelerate the transition towards more sustainable agriculture. And for us as policymakers, that support of our citizens is key. I think it also confirms that we are on the right track with the strategies we adopted under the European Green Deal and with the two proposals on nature restoration and the sustainable use of plant protection products.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mairead MCGUINNESS, Commissioner, Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union, But I recognise there is a lot of debate still to be had on those proposals. We will now, with this Citizens Initiative, enter the final stage. The Commission will have its formal response, draw its conclusions and announce any action it may intend to take. As a follow up, and that will be done by way of reply by April 7th. I want to always also rather share with you two other proposals we're examining under successful initiatives from citizens.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mairead MCGUINNESS, Commissioner, Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union, One is stop finning, stop the trade, and the second one save cruelty free cosmetics. And there will be one more to follow. I think people as citizens of Europe are engaging more in our policy making that's growing stronger. And it's welcome. But I do hope that it's reflected in higher turnouts of the next elections for the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mairead MCGUINNESS, Commissioner, Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union, I think our debate and the European Citizens Initiative shows that we take very seriously the concerns expressed by citizens, and we do need the trust of citizens in our ongoing work. If I may, without diverting too much, I was very happy madam, make sure that you mentioned gardeners and gardening and that bees are also in urban areas and that perhaps we are all tidying up nature too much and maybe we should just let it be. Thank you.