A RESOLUTION adopted by one of the largest political groupings in the European Parliament – to reject the EU’s Nature Restoration Law – has been welcomed by western farm representatives.

The European People’s Party (EPP) – to which Fine Gael is affiliated – adopted the resolution on the basis that the proposed law and regulations would place an unfair burden on farmers.

As well as the EU Nature Restoration Law, the EPP resolution also rejects the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation on the basis of defending agriculture as ‘a strategic sector, delivering food security with a decent income being provided for farmers.”

According to the EPP – one of the largest political groupings in the 705 seat European Parliament – the Covid-19 epidemic and ‘the illegal Russian invasion’ was a reminder to EU citizens that food couldn’t be taken for granted.

The EPP said that while farmers should be supported to use less inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides and antibiotics through eco-schemes and agri-environmental programmes, now was not the time to endanger food security in Europe.

They said that their rejection of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides proposal was based on the non-feasible reduction targets chosen and the lack of viable alternatives being offered to farmers.

As regards the Nature Restoration Law, in too many regions or member states, the implementation of existing nature legislation had led to a ‘bureaucratic nightmare and planning deadlock.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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