The EU pollinators initiative.
Date: 2020-05-18
Institutions: Directorate-General for Environment
Subjects: agricultural production, apiculture, biodiversity, insect, protected species, protection of animal life, public awareness campaign

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“Our quality of life – and our future – 
depends on the many services that 
nature provides for free. Pollination is 
one of these invisible, but invaluable 
services, so it is very worrying to learn 
that some of our top pollinators are at 
high risk! If we don’t address the 
reasons behind the decline in wild 
pollinators, and act urgently to stop it, 
we and our future generations will pay 
a very heavy price indeed.”

Virginijus Sinkevičius
EU Commissioner for Environment, 
Oceans and Fisheries

What will the EU do in the 
coming years:

 Develop a monitoring system for

pollinators

 More research on the causes and

consequences of pollinator declines

 Create knowledge hub on

pollinators

 Increase contribution of EU policies

to pollinator conservation

 Engage citizens and businesses in

actions for pollinators

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Wild flower border for pollinators

EU action on pollinators
The EU has put in place a range of measures 
beneficial to pollinators, such as the 
protection of their natural habitats through 
the EU nature legislation, support for 
beekeeping and restrictions of the use of 
pesticides harmful to bees. The EU Natura 
2000 network of protected areas provides 
many habitats of vital importance for 
pollinators.

Yet, these measures have not been sufficient 
to safeguard our insect pollinators. This is 
why the European Commission launched the 
EU Pollinators Initiative in 2018.

High public concern for 
pollinators

EU Pollinators 
Initiative

Summary of the results of 
the Public Consultation

Environment

For further information, please visit: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/
species/pollinators

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Ninety-four per cent of 
the respondents to the 
EU public consultation 
think the decline of 
pollinators is alarming.

94%

The EU Pollinators 
Initiative

Did you know …?

 In Europe, pollinators are insects such
as bees, hoverflies, butterflies, moths,
some wasps and beetles. Bees are the
most prominent group, with about
2000 wild species.

 As they feed, pollinators transfer pollen
from one flower to the next. 4 in 5
flowering plants need this help to set
seed and fruit.

 Insect pollination is a vital driving force,
essential for plant reproduction, our
supply of healthy food and around € 15
billion worth of the EU’s annual
agricultural production.

 Wild pollinators are in strong decline.
1 in 10 bee and butterfly species in
Europe is on the verge of extinction.

 Habitats of pollinators are disappearing
due to land use change, intensive
farming and climate change. Pesticides
and other pollutants, invasive alien
species and diseases directly threaten
pollinator’s health.

 What are pollinators and
why do we need them?

 Why are pollinators

declining?

Drivers of pollinator decline

Intensive agricultural management
%

Land-use change

Climate change

Pathogens

Pesticide use

 What is the EU doing to

stop the decline?

Environmental pollution

Invasive alien species

ISBN 978-92-76-18570-3 
doi: 10.2779/88885

Environment

5060708090100199019952000200520102015 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The EU Pollinators Initiative
The EU Pollinators Initiative, launched in June 2018, aims to address the decline of wild pollinators in the EU. 
It includes ten actions under three priority themes:

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Gold-tailed melitta

Buff-tailed bumblebee

Priority I: Improving knowledge of pollinator decline,
its causes and consequences
Action 1: Support monitoring and assessment
Action 2: Support research and innovation
Action 3: Facilitate knowledge sharing and access to data

Priority II: Tackling the causes of pollinator decline
Action 4: Conserve endangered pollinator species and habitats
Action 5: Improve pollinator habitats on and around farmland
Action 6: Improve pollinator habitats in urban areas and the wider landscape
Action 7: Reduce the impacts of pesticide use on pollinators
Action 8: Reduce the impacts of invasive alien species on pollinators

Marbled white butterflies

Priority III: Raising awareness, engaging society and 
promoting collaboration
Action 9: Encourage the business sector and citizens to act
Action 10: Promote pollinator strategies and collaboration at all levels

Marmalade hoverfly

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A solitary bee

Broad-bordered bee hawkmoth