COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS EU Pollinators Initiative
Date: 2018-06-01
Institutions: Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission
Subjects: EU environmental policy, EU initiative, apiculture, biodiversity, ecosystem, environmental impact, environmental protection, insect, plant health product, sustainable development

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 1.6.2018 COM(2018) 395 final  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS EU Pollinators Initiative {SWD(2018) 302 final} - {SWD(2018) 303 final}  
 
 
1.  THE NEED FOR EU ACTION ON POLLINATORS 

In recent years, public attention has been drawn to the plight of honeybee populations, which 
have seen losses in the EU and around the world. Behind this highly publicised phenomenon 
is  a  problem  of  a  much  larger  scale,  namely  the  dramatic  decline  in  the  occurrence  and 
diversity  of  all  kinds  of  European  wild  insect  pollinators,  including  wild  bees,  hoverflies, 
butterflies and moths. Numerous pollinator species are extinct or threatened with extinction1. 

This  is  a  serious  cause  for  concern  because  pollinators  are  an  integral  part  of  healthy 
ecosystems. Without them, many plant species would decline and eventually disappear along 
with  the  organisms  that  depend  on  them,  which  would  have  serious  ecological,  social  and 
economic  implications.  Pollinator-dependent  crops  rely  on  animal  pollination  to  varying 
degrees. It is estimated that 5–8 %2 of current global crop production is directly attributed to 
animal pollination. In the EU alone, around 84 %3 of crop species and 78 %3 of wild flower 
species  depend,  at least  in  part,  on animal  pollination.  Up  to  almost  EUR  15  billion4  of  the 
EU’s annual agricultural output is directly attributed to insect pollinators. 

The first global report on pollinators issued by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform 
on  Biodiversity  and  Ecosystem  Services2  names  land-use  change,  intensive  agricultural 
management and pesticide use, environmental pollution, invasive alien species, pathogens and 
climate  change  as  the  main  threats  to  pollinators.  It  also  identifies  significant  gaps  in 
knowledge  of how these  drivers work and the need  for cross-sectoral action to  tackle them. 
The Convention on Biological Diversity5 endorsed the findings of the report and highlighted 
the importance of pollinators and the ecosystem services they deliver to achieving a number 
of the UN Sustainable Development Goals6. 

The  EU  has  put  in  place  a  range  of  measures  beneficial  to  pollinators,  notably  under 
environment and health policies (in particular the Birds and Habitats Directives  and the EU 
legislation  on  pesticides),  as  well  as  under  the  common  agricultural  policy,  cohesion  policy 
and  research  and  innovation  policy.  There  are  also  a  number  of  national  and  regional 
pollinator  strategies  in  place.  However,  to  date  there  has  been  no  single,  coordinated  EU 
action to address the decline of pollinators through an integrated approach involving different 
sectors and policies. The EU and its Member States need to address the problem together. 

This Communication presents 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. 

1 See the accompanying Staff Working Document for detailed evidence supporting this Communication. 
2 Potts, S.G., et al., (2016), The Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on 
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production, Secretariat of the 
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Bonn, Germany. 552 pp. 
3 Potts, S., et al., (2015), Status and Trends of European Pollinators. Key Findings of the STEP Project, Pensoft 
Publishers, Sofia, 72 pp. 
4 Gallai, N., et al., (2009), Economic Valuation of the Vulnerability of World Agriculture Confronted with 
Pollinator Decline, Ecological Economics 68.3: 810-821. 
5 https://www.cbd.int/  
6 Convention on Biological Diversity COP decision XIII/15, https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-13/cop-13-
dec-15-en.pdf  

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This  initiative  illustrates  the  Commission’s  ambition  to  accelerate  progress  towards  the  EU 
2020 goal of halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services7 reaffirmed 
by the Action Plan for nature, people and the economy8. It responds to the calls made by the 
European Parliament9,10 and the Council11 for action to protect pollinators and their habitats in 
order  to  put  an  end  to  their  decline.  The  public  consultation12  preparing  this  initiative  has 
established  that  an  EU  initiative  on  pollinators  is  strongly  supported  across  the  stakeholder 
groups, and in particular by the general public. 

2.  THE COMPONENTS OF THE INITIATIVE 

The objectives and actions set out in this initiative aim to improve scientific knowledge about 
insect pollinator decline, tackle its main known causes and strengthen collaboration between 
all  the  actors  concerned.  While  the  focus  is  on  wild  pollinators,  the  initiative  addresses 
challenges common to all pollinators. Therefore, it will also benefit domesticated pollinators, 
in  particular  honeybees,  and  will  complement  existing  EU  support  for  apiculture13  and  bee 
health14.  

While the actions proposed are designed to be delivered in the short term, they will set key 
processes in motion and put mechanisms in place in order to come to grips with the challenge 
in  a  holistic  way  over  the  longer  term.  The  successful  implementation  of  these  actions  will 
require adequate financial and human resources. Policy makers and public authorities cannot 
tackle the challenge alone; EU citizens and the business sector will also need to be involved. 

The initiative sets long-term objectives and short-term actions under three priorities: 

PRIORITY I: Improving knowledge of pollinator decline, its causes and consequences 

PRIORITY II: Tackling the causes of pollinator decline 

PRIORITY III: Raising awareness, engaging society-at-large and promoting collaboration 

The table in annex provides details of the various actions and sub-actions under each priority. 

7 EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/strategy/index_en.htm  
8 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/fitness_check/action_plan/communication_en.pdf  
9 European Parliament resolution of 2 February 2016 on the mid-term review of the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy 
(2015/2137(INI)). 
10 European Parliament resolution of 15 November 2017 on an Action Plan for nature, people and the economy 
(2017/2819(RSP)). 
11 Council conclusions 13398/16 on Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 
http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-13398-2016-INIT/en/pdf  
12 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/species/pollinators/index_en.htm  
13 https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/honey/programmes_en  
14 https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/live_animals/bees/health_en  

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2.1. 

PRIORITY  I:  Improving  knowledge  of  pollinator  decline,  its  causes  and 
consequences 

The EU has already supported the generation of valuable knowledge (for example through the 
ALARM15  and  STEP16  projects  and  the  European  Red  List17).  While  these  clearly 
demonstrate an alarming decline of pollinators and warrant immediate action, the knowledge 
gaps are still considerable. The full extent of the decline is not known and its repercussions on 
human  society  and  the  economy  are  not  yet  fully  understood.  Although  the  main  threats  to 
pollinators  are  established  and  allow  immediate,  knowledge-based  action  to  be  undertaken, 
knowledge about their individual impacts and interaction requires further research. Improving 
knowledge therefore represents a cornerstone of this initiative and will require joint efforts of 
the  Commission,  the  Member  States,  the  European  Environment  Agency,  academia, 
stakeholders and citizens.   

Pollinator species and populations in the EU need to be better monitored. The development of 
a coordinated monitoring process aiming to fill the knowledge gap on their status and trends 
will require a joint effort from the EU and its Member States. A technical expert group will be 
needed to devise a cost-effective and standardised monitoring methodology. Citizen science18, 
ICT  tools  and  technology  like  DNA  barcoding  and  machine  learning  have  the  potential  to 
contribute to the process. Good quality on-site data from monitoring will make it possible to 
assess  endangered  pollinator  species  and  develop  robust  pollinator  indicators.  These 
indicators would help to assess the impacts of various EU policies, primarily in the areas of 
the environment, agriculture and health, and to track EU progress towards the UN Sustainable 
Development Goals 2 (‘Zero hunger’) and 15 (‘Life on land’)19. Coupled with data on threats 
to  pollinators  and  pollination,  they  would  make  it  possible  to  carry  out  an  integrated 
assessment of the decline of pollinators, its impacts on society and the economy through tools 
such  as  mapping  and  assessment  of  ecosystems  and  their  services20  and  natural  capital 
accounts on pollinators and pollination21, and to develop adequate policy responses. 

Research and innovation need to be strengthened on all fronts: the magnitude of the problem 
(status  and  trends  of  pollinators),  tackling  causes  (threats  to  pollinators,  their  relative 
importance and interaction) and consequences (impacts on nature, human wellbeing and the 
economy). Fundamental research (systematics, taxonomy) as well as applied research should 
be  supported  to  enhance  the  EU's  monitoring  and  assessment  capacity  in  relation  to 
pollinators.  Several  ongoing  research  projects  will  already  be  delivering  results  on 
pollinators22, as well as on innovations in plant protection, integrated health approaches and 
alternatives to pesticides23.  

15 http://www.alarmproject.net/  
16 http://www.step-project.net/  
17 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/species/redlist/  
18 Citizens can contribute to data collection and thereby play an active role in supporting science in this area, 
https://ec.europa.eu/research/openscience/index.cfm?pg=citizen&section=monitor  
19 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/sdi/indicators  
20 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/knowledge/ecosystem_assessment/index_en.htm     
21 https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/publication/ecosystem-services-accounting-part-i-outdoor-recreation-and-crop-
pollination  
22 http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/topics/sfs-28-2017.html 
http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/topics/sfs-16-2017.html  
23 http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/topics/sfs-04-2019-2020.html  

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Open access to pollinator-relevant data and information is a pre-condition for making better 
use of existing resources to generate new knowledge and innovative solutions. Further efforts 
should be made to bring scattered data and information together and make it easily accessible. 

2.2. 

PRIORITY II: Tackling the causes of pollinator decline 

The variety of drivers of pollinator decline calls for mitigation actions across various sectors 
and policies. 

The most threatened EU pollinator species and habitats, such as the ones protected under the 
Habitats Directive or included on the European Red List, should be subject to priority action 
and funding. The LIFE programme will in particular play an important role in this regard. 

Loss of habitats 

In order to improve the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives, the Commission 
is  implementing  the  Action  Plan  for  nature,  people  and  the  economy.  While  the  Habitats 
Directive  only  lists  a  limited  number  of  pollinator  species,  conservation  measures  for 
protected  habitat  types  such  as  grasslands  can  significantly  benefit  pollinators.  Therefore, 
improving  the  Directive’s  implementation  is  of  major  significance  in  addressing  one  of  the 
key  threats  to  pollinators  —  loss  of  habitats.  Green  infrastructure24  can  further  improve  the 
natural  conditions  needed  to  sustain  thriving  pollinator  habitats  by  providing  nature-based 
solutions25 and strengthening the coherence and connectivity of the Natura 2000 network in 
broader rural and urban landscapes. 

The EU’s common agricultural policy and cohesion policy present key opportunities for the 
maintenance  and  creation  of  pollinator  habitats  in  rural  and  urban  areas  in  the  period  up  to 
2020.  The  structure  of  the  common  agricultural  policy  (including  cross-compliance,  direct 
payments,  and  rural  development  measures)  provides  a  broad  set  of  instruments  needed  to 
help  tackle  pressures  on  pollinators  stemming  from  intensive  agricultural  management  and 
land-use  change,  including  farmland  abandonment.  These  include  in  particular  ecological 
focus  areas  under  direct  payment  support  to  farmers,  which  provide  buffer  strips  for 
pollinators  and  land  lying  fallow  for  nectar-  and  pollen-rich  plants,  as  well  as  agri-
environment-climate  measures  under  rural  development  programmes.  Other  important 
incentives  support  farmers  for  sustainable  farming  systems  in  Natura  2000  areas,  and 
investing  in  organic  farming.  Continued  efforts  are  needed  to  recognise  the  significance  of 
pollinators for agricultural productivity. 

While the role of rural areas is paramount for healthy pollinator populations, the importance 
of  urban  and  peri-urban  areas in  supporting  pollinator  habitats  is  increasingly  recognised  as 
well.  Public  and  private  spaces  such  as  parks,  gardens,  green  roofs  and  green  walls  act  as 
refuge  habitats  for  pollinators  and  ‘stepping  stones’  which  allow  pollinators  to  move  and 
disperse  within  urbanised  areas.  By  connecting  to  natural  and  semi-natural  areas  in  the 
countryside, they support a network of pollinator habitats in the wider landscape. A number of 
promising solutions, such as nature-based solutions, can improve the integration of pollinator 
habitats within major infrastructure networks such as roads and railway and power lines, often 
associated  with  habitat  deterioration  and  typically  spread  across  large  expanses  of  diverse 

24See Green Infrastructure (GI) — Enhancing Europe’s Natural Capital, COM(2013) 249 final. 
25 For example natural water retention measures, http://nwrm.eu/  

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European  landscape.  Regional  and  local  authorities  should  be  encouraged  to  invest  in  such 
solutions. 

Pesticide use 

The  risks  and  impacts  of  pesticides  on  pollinators  result  from  the  toxicity  of  the  active 
substance  and  the  level  of  exposure.  In  the  EU,  active  substances  used  in  plant  protection 
products26  can  only  be  approved  following  a  risk  assessment  to  make  sure  there  are  no 
undesired  effects  on  honeybees27.  In  2013,  the  European  Food  Safety  Authority  (EFSA) 
developed  a  guidance  document28  to  strengthen  the  current  risk  assessment  by  including, 
among other, chronic effects and wild bee species to the assessment requirements. However, 
this  guidance  has  not  yet  been  endorsed  by  Member  States;  further  action  will  therefore  be 
needed to ensure its implementation. 

In  2013,  the  Commission  restricted  the  use  of  three  neonicotinoid  pesticides29  after  it  was 
shown that they pose high risks to bees. In February 2018, the EFSA’s review of the evidence 
confirmed these risks30. As stated in Regulation (EC) 1107/200927, it is important to introduce 
adequate measures to mitigate these risks. The Commission's proposal to further restrict the 
use of three neonicotinoid pesticides was endorsed by Member States on 27 April 201831. 

Furthermore,  Directive  2009/128/EC32  provides  for  a  range  of  actions  that  support  the 
sustainable use of approved pesticides. Specific targets and measures can be set up in national 
action plans under the Directive to address the impacts of pesticides on pollinators. 

Invasive alien species 

Invasive  alien  species  are  another  key  threat  to  pollinators.  Regulation  (EU)  1143/201433 
provides  for  a  set  of  measures  to  be  taken  in  this  area  across  the  EU.  Continued  efforts  to 
implement  these  measures  and  list  new  species  considered  a  threat  will  mitigate  harmful 
effects,  such  as  those  associated  with  the  predation  by  the  yellow  legged  hornet  (Vespa 
velutina),  or  the  destruction  of  pollinator  habitats  by  certain  plant  species  such  as  the 
Himalayan  balsam  (Impatiens  glandulifera)  which  smothers  native  vegetation.  Furthermore, 
the use of native pollinator species and native plant species for private and public use should 
be promoted to avoid the risks that alien species pose to native pollinator species.  

Other threats 

Pollinators  are  further  impacted  by  climate  change,  environmental  pollution  and  diseases. 
Climate change affects pollinators' distribution and range, their habitats and interaction, both 

26 The term ‘pesticides’ refers to plant protection products as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. 
27 Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market. 
28 EFSA Guidance Document  on the risk assessment of plant protection products on bees (Apis mellifera, 
Bombus spp. and solitary bees), https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/3295  
29 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 485/2013 of 24 May 2013 amending Implementing 
Regulation (EU) No 540/2011, as regards the conditions of approval of the active substances clothianidin, 
thiamethoxam and imidacloprid, and prohibiting the use and sale of seeds treated with plant protection products 
containing those active substances. 
30 https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/180228  
31 https://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/pesticides/approval_active_substances/approval_renewal/neonicotinoids_en  
32 Directive 2009/128/EC establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of 
pesticides. 
33 Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive 
alien species. 

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through  gradual  shifts  and  extreme  weather  events.  While  comprehensive  studies  on  the 
effects  of  various  pollutants  (such  as  air  pollution,  heavy  metals  and  light  pollution)  and 
disease  are  lacking,  they  are  known  to  harm  wild  pollinators  or  negatively  impact  their 
habitats.  This  initiative  does  not  directly  address  these  threats.  EU  policies  on  climate 
action34,  air  pollution35  and  actions  for  bee  health14  will  help  to  mitigate  their  impacts  on 
pollinators.  The  initiative  will,  however,  contribute  to  addressing  these  and  other  threats 
indirectly  by  supporting  the  maintenance,  creation  and  connection  of  healthy  habitats  for 
pollinators and by tackling the spread of non-native species that carry harmful pathogens and 
diseases, thereby enhancing the overall climate resilience of European ecosystems.      

2.3. 

PRIORITY III: Raising awareness, engaging society-at-large and promoting 
collaboration 

Tackling  pollinator  decline  requires  a  strategic approach  at all  levels  of  governance  and  the 
involvement  of  various  actors.  This  initiative  will  raise  awareness  across  society  on  the 
importance of pollinators and the urgent need to take action. By promoting and disseminating 
best  practice  and  supporting  further  collaboration  activities,  it  will  aim  to  mobilise  the 
scientific community, policy makers, businesses and citizens to act and to cooperate. 

While  a  number  of  platforms  supporting  collaboration  on  pollinators  already  exist  (such  as 
research networks and policy exchange platforms), the capacity for collaboration need to be 
further  strengthened.  The  Commission  and  Member  States  should  raise  awareness  of  and 
promote  funding  opportunities  in  this  regard.  Common  tools  and  templates  for  developing 
pollinator plans and strategies, building on existing best practices, will foster further action at 
national,  regional  and  local  level.  Increased  EU  expenditure  on  national  apiculture 
programmes could also broaden public and professional understanding on the importance of 
wild pollinators for society and the economy. 

The EU will step up its contribution to global action on pollinators by strengthening support 
for  conservation  actions  under  the  International  Pollinators  Initiative36,  led  by  the  Food  and 
Agriculture Organization of the United  Nations, and by fostering  international collaboration 
through the Coalition of the Willing on Pollinators37.   

3.  CONCLUSION 

The EU Pollinators Initiative will contribute to the objectives of the EU biodiversity strategy 
to 2020 and sectoral policies such as the common agricultural policy and cohesion policy. It 
will also provide valuable information on EU progress towards the relevant UN Sustainable 
Development Goals. 

The initiative will work in synergy with the Action Plan for nature, people and the economy, 
in particular with the upcoming guidance on EU-level green infrastructure and on integration 
of ecosystem services into decision-making. It comes at the time when the inter-institutional 
negotiations  on  the  post-2020  EU  multiannual  financial  framework  are  about  to  start. 
Although it is envisaged that the actions proposed are completed by 2020, it will be important 

34 https://ec.europa.eu/clima/index_en  
35 Directive (EU) 2016/2284 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants. 
36 Convention on Biological Diversity COP decision V/5, https://www.cbd.int/decision/cop/?id=7147  
37 https://promotepollinators.org  

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to  maintain  momentum  and  make  best  use  of  future  EU  funding  instruments  in  order  to 
support impactful actions that address the decline of pollinators in the longer term.     

The Commission invites the European Parliament and Council to endorse this initiative and to 
actively engage in its implementation, in close cooperation with all relevant stakeholders. 

By  the  end  of  2020,  the  Commission  will  review  progress  on  the  implementation  of  the 
initiative  and,  if  necessary,  propose  recommendations  for  further  action.  This  process  will 
feed into the final review of the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 and its follow-up. 

7 

 
 
ANNEX — LIST OF ACTIONS 

This annex provides an overview of the objectives and actions included under each priority of the EU Pollinators Initiative. The actions will be 
implemented until 2020. The objectives set a long-term perspective towards 2030. 

PRIORITY I: Improving knowledge of pollinator decline, its causes and its consequences 

Objective 
Pollinators and their habitats are monitored and regularly assessed. There is an EU-wide monitoring scheme providing data for the assessment 
of their status and trends. This forms the basis for strong and timely pollinator indicators that help to assess the impacts of relevant EU policies 
and  make  it  possible  to  develop  a  European  atlas  on  pollinators  and  pollination.  Resources  are  mobilised  under  the  EU  research  and 
innovation  programmes  to  fill  in  the  gaps  in  knowledge  about  the  decline  of  pollinators,  its  causes  and  consequences  on  society  and  the 
economy. Data and information on pollinators are openly accessible. 

ACTION 1 SUPPORT MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 

1A) 

The Commission will devise and test an EU-wide pollinator monitoring scheme to ensure the provision of good 
quality  data  for  assessing  the  status  and  trends  of  pollinator  species  in  the  EU  and  developing  a  pollinator 
indicator. A technical expert group will be set up to support this work.  

First  milestone  in 
Q4 2018 

1B) 

The Commission will start work on a European Red List of hoverflies. 

Q1 2019 

1C) 

1D) 

1E) 

The  Commission  will  develop  a  list  of  habitats  important  for  pollinators  and  assess  their  condition  based  on 
reporting provided by Member States under the Habitats Directive and other available data.  

First  milestone  in 
Q1 2019 

The Commission will launch a pilot project on monitoring the presence of pesticides in the environment through 
honeybee products (for example pollen) to assess the feasibility of using this innovative approach to inform about 
the exposure of pollinators to pesticides. 

Q4 2018 

The Commission will apply the ‘mapping and assessing ecosystems and their services’ framework to pollinators, 
including the development of natural capital accounts on pollinators and pollination, to assess in an integrated way 
the decline of pollinators, its impacts on society and the economy, and to derive adequate policy responses. 

Q2 2019 

8 

 
 
ACTION 2 — SUPPORT RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 

2A) 

2B) 

2C) 

The Commission will continue to promote and support research and innovation on pollinators and the causes and 
consequences of their decline under Horizon 2020 – the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 
2014-2020. 

Continuous 

In  the  framework  of  exchanges  via  the  EIP-AGRI  network  (European  Innovation  Partnership  for  Agricultural 
Productivity  and  Sustainability38),  the  Commission  will  raise  awareness  of  stakeholders  on  the  opportunities  in 
recognising pollinator needs and the pollination service they provide. 

Continuous  

The  Commission  will  consider  how  to  further  promote  research  and  innovation  to  address  the  decline  of 
pollinators in implementing the Horizon Europe programme  – the EU Framework Programme for Research and 
Innovation post-2020. 

Continuous 

ACTION 3 — FACILITATE KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND ACCESS TO DATA 

3A) 

The Commission will launch an online platform on pollinators to serve as a central data and information hub.  

First  milestone  in 
Q1 2019 

3B) 

Member States should make relevant spatial data, such as land-use data, available in the public domain based on 
the requirements under the INSPIRE39 and Access to Environmental Information Directives40 to allow integrated 
spatial analysis. 

First  milestone  in 
Q2 2019 

38 https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/en/european-innovation-partnership-agricultural  
39 Directive 2007/2/EC establishing an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE). 
40 Directive 2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information. 

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PRIORITY II: Tackling the causes of pollinator decline 

Objective 
Appropriate conservation measures for endangered pollinator species and their habitats are identified and implemented. Measures relevant for 
pollinators are fully integrated into the common agricultural policy and cohesion policy, and Member States make full use of the opportunities 
to  maintain  and  restore  pollinator  habitats  in  rural  and  urban  areas.  Pollinator  habitats  are  effectively  connected  in  the  wider  landscape, 
allowing them to disperse across territories. Pollinators are protected from the impacts of pesticides and invasive alien species. 

ACTION 4 — CONSERVE ENDANGERED POLLINATOR SPECIES AND HABITATS 

4A) 

4B) 

4C) 

The Commission will further develop action plans for the most threatened pollinator species and habitats listed in 
the Habitats Directive, and will support Member States and stakeholders in implementing them, including through 
the LIFE Programme. 

First  milestone  in 
Q2 2019 

The  Commission  will,  in  cooperation  with  Member  States,  identify  conservation  measures  and  management 
approaches to optimize benefits for endangered pollinators and their habitats, including in the frame of the Natura 
2000 biogeographic process and through a dedicated workshop. 

First milestone in 
Q2 2019 

Member  States  should  address  priority  measures  for  important  pollinator  habitats  in  the  prioritised  action 
frameworks for the management of Natura 2000 sites and green infrastructure as well as species protection.  

Q3 2019 

ACTION 5 — IMPROVE POLLINATOR HABITATS ON AND AROUND FARMLAND 

5A) 

5B) 

5C) 

The  Commission  will  assess  existing  experience  on  the  use  of  pollinator-relevant  measures  under  the  common 
agricultural  policy  2014-2020.  Based  on  this,  it  will  develop  guidance  for  managing  authorities  and  farmers, 
providing  technical  advice  on  how  to  increase  the  effectiveness  of  measures,  and  actively  promote  it  in  the 
common agricultural policy post 2020.    

First  milestone  in 
Q4 2018 

Member States should encourage the uptake of pollinator-relevant measures in rural development programmes for 
2014-2020, including through training and awareness-raising for farmers and other relevant stakeholders. 

Continuous  

The Commission will promote the integration of pollinator considerations in the implementation of the post-2020 
common agricultural policy, and will include a pollinator indicator in the performance and monitoring framework 
once finalized and operational. 

Continuous 

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ACTION 6 — IMPROVE POLLINATOR HABITATS IN URBAN AREAS AND THE WIDER LANDSCAPE 

6A) 

6B) 

6C) 

The  Commission  will  collect  best  practices  and  develop  guidance  for  local  authorities  on  how  to  create  a 
favourable environment for pollinators, and will include pollinators in the criteria for the European Green Capital 
and Green Leaf awards. 

Q2 2019 

The  Commission  will  increase  the  awareness  of  cohesion  policy  managing  authorities  and  stakeholders  on 
pollinator conservation and related funding opportunities in the 2014-2020 period and post-2020. 

First  milestone  in 
Q4 2018 

Through guidance on EU-level green infrastructure and on the integration of ecosystems and their services into 
decision  making,  the  Commission  will  promote  landscape-level  actions  that  maintain  and  restore  pollinator 
habitats, and their integration into spatial planning and other relevant decision-making processes. 

First milestone in 
Q4 2018 

ACTION 7 — REDUCE THE IMPACTS OF PESTICIDE USE ON POLLINATORS  

7A) 

7B) 

7C) 

The  Commission  will  encourage  Member  States  to  include  specific  targets  and  measures  for  pollinator 
conservation in their revised national action plans under Directive 2009/128/EC to reduce the risks and impacts of 
pesticide use on pollinators, and will assess the situation in a second report on the Directive’s implementation. 

First milestone in 
Q2 2019  

The Commission will adopt an implementation plan for the EFSA Guidance Document on the risk assessment of 
plant  protection  products  on  bees  (Apis  mellifera,  Bombus  spp.  and  solitary  bees)  in  order  to  enhance  the  risk 
assessment of pesticides on pollinators. 

Q4 2018 

The  Commission  will  adopt  legal  measures  for  the  prohibition  of  all  outdoor  uses  of  the  three  neonicotinoid 
pesticides already subject to specific restrictions since 2013 (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin). 

Q2 2018 

ACTION 8 — REDUCE THE IMPACTS OF INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES ON POLLINATORS 

8A) 

8B) 

The Commission will provide technical guidance to Member States on how to prevent and manage invasive alien 
species harmful to pollinators within the scope of Regulation (EU) 1143/2014. 

Q3 2019 

The Commission will develop guidance to promote the use of native plant species and pollinators in the public and 
private sector. 

Q3 2019 

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PRIORITY III: Raising awareness, engaging society-at-large and promoting collaboration  

Objective 
Awareness  of  the importance of  pollinators and the urgent need  for  action to  stop their decline is  raised in society-at-large.  Public policies 
have greater impact due to the effective mobilisation of businesses and citizens. Individual actions have more impact because there is better 
coordination of relevant actors at all levels. The EU takes a global lead to support and facilitate international action on pollinators.     

ACTION 9 — ENCOURAGE THE BUSINESS SECTOR AND CITIZENS TO ACT 

9A) 

9B) 

9C) 

The Commission will provide guidance and incentivise businesses to contribute to the conservation of pollinators, 
in  particular  in  the  agri-food  sector.  It  will  also  continue  to  promote  good  practices  and  innovative  business 
models beneficial to pollinators through the EU Business @ Biodiversity Platform41 and the European Business 
Award  for  the  Environment,  and  will  provide  funding  opportunities  through  the  Natural  Capital  Financing 
Facility. 

First milestone in 
Q2 2019 

The  Commission  will  explore  the  possibility  of  applying  the  EU  ecolabel  to  products  that  support  pollinator 
conservation, such as wildflower seed mixes, potted plants for pollinators and other relevant gardening products, 
in line with the conclusions and recommendations of the fitness check concluded in 201742. 

Q3 2019 

The Commission will develop and disseminate educational material on pollinators. It will also develop guidance 
on  how  citizens  can  get  involved  in  conservation  of  pollinators  and  citizen  science  on  pollinators.  Such 
engagement  activities  for  the  preservation  of  pollinators  may  be  conducted  in  the  context  of  the  European 
Solidarity  Corps,  which  supports  young  people  to  volunteer  in  projects  that  benefit  communities  and  the 
environment around Europe. In addition, national apiculture programmes could complement these efforts through 
training to broaden public and professional understanding on the importance of wild pollinators. 

Continuous 

41 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/biodiversity/business/index_en.htm  
42 COM(2017) 355 final. 

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ACTION 10 — PROMOTE POLLINATOR STRATEGIES AND COLLABORATION AT ALL LEVELS 

10A) 

The Commission will develop common templates and tools to facilitate the development of pollinator strategies at 
national, regional and local level, building on existing best practice.    

Q3 2019 

10B) 

10C) 

The  Commission  will  identify  opportunities  for  improving  collaboration  among  all  relevant  actors  through 
existing  platforms  and  promote  further  collaboration  through  EU-level  mechanisms,  including  under  the  EU 
Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2014-2020, the European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg) 
programmes, Community-Led Local Development, TAIEX-EIR43 and TAIEX-REGIO44 Peer2Peer instruments.  

First milestone in 
Q1 2019 

The  Commission  will  promote  the  integration  of  pollinator  conservation  considerations  and  measures  into  EU 
supported policies, plans and programmes in developing and neighbouring countries, in line with the objectives of 
the International Pollinators Initiative45. 

Continuous 

10D) 

The EU will join the Coalition of the Willing on Pollinators and foster effective international action on pollinators.   Q4 2018 

43 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eir/p2p/index_en.htm  
44 http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/policy/how/improving-investment/taiex-regio-peer-2-peer/  
45 Led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 

13