Following the European Commission proposal for a two year ban on neonicotinoid pesticides, the European Parliament held a workshop on 26th February 2013 to assess current information on the status of bee health in the EU. A large body of evidence has been accumulated on the causes of bee mortality in recent years, both in the EU and worldwide. The evidence points to multiple interacting factors, including habitat loss, the quality of the bee diet, disease, bee-keeper practices, farming practices and climate, as well as the use of pesticides.

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LEAF has produced a short guidance document outlining six simple steps for producers on the sustainable management of water. Although the guidance targets UK producers, the six steps are also relevant to producers beyond the UK.

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One of the key elements of the current CAP reform, aimed at protecting existing carbon stocks, so far appears to have been failing to gain support within the European Parliament, for reasons which are unclear.

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The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, has issued a new negotiating text for the forthcoming MFF in preparation for the forthcoming Council meeting. He proposes further cuts of €75 billion to the Commission proposals, exceeding those recently tabled by the Cypriot Presidency (€50 billion). The implications for rural development are serious.

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Recent European Parliament conference entitled “Agroforestry: Trees for a Sustainable European Agriculture” (10 October) brought together an audience of about 80 and several speakers representing scientists, farmers and policy researchers to discuss the potential benefits that agroforestry can deliver.

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Commissioned by the RSPB, new IEEP report highlights potential opportunities for Member States to deliver more for the environment according to the proposed changes to rural development regulation. The report sets out a series of principles and environmental priorities to help guide Member States in designing their future rural development programmes.

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