COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION - SYNOPSIS REPORT Accompanying the document COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Revision of the EU Pollinators Initiative A new deal for pollinators
Date: 2023-01-24
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

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 24.1.2023  SWD(2023) 18 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION - SYNOPSIS REPORT      Accompanying the document COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS   Revision of the EU Pollinators Initiative   A new deal for pollinators     {COM(2023) 35 final}  
 
 
1. 

INTRODUCTION 

Between  September  2021  and  June  2022,  the  Commission  consulted  stakeholders  on  the 
revision of the EU Pollinators  Initiative  (EUPI)1, including  EU  and non-EU citizens,  public 
authorities, academic/research institutions, NGOs, environmental organisations, and business 
and  trade  associations.  This  report  summarises  the  inputs  received  through  an  open  public 
consultation  (OPC)  that  garnered  423  responses2,  a  call  for  evidence  that  garnered  7388 
feedbacks3,  and  nine  online  expert  consultation  workshops  each  of  which  had  its  specific 
thematic focus4. This report is structured along the lines of the three priorities of the revised EU 
Pollinators Initiative. 

The vast majority of respondents to the public consultation found pollinator protection in the 
EU to be very urgent and assigned high importance to the EUPI.  

2.  RESULTS OF THE CONSULTATION ACTIVITIES 

2.1. 

Improving knowledge of pollinators decline, its causes and consequences 

Public consultation 

Respondents to the public consultation placed high importance on improving the knowledge on 
pollinators and causes of their decline. Almost three in four respondents find it important to 
establish scientifically robust EU-wide schemes for monitoring the causes of pollinator decline 
and the abundance and diversity of pollinator species. Respondents further stressed the need to 
understand multiple stressors and their interactions (e.g. use of pesticides, intensive farming, 
habitat fragmentation, air and soil pollution as well as light pollution).  

Expert consultation  

Experts participating in the consultation workshops suggested strengthening research capacity 
and infrastructure in order to improve data and research for pollinator conservation, including 
the state of pollinators and the causes and consequences of their decline, the knowledge base 
across taxa, and the effectiveness of mitigation measures.  

Experts  widely  welcomed  existing  efforts  to  establish  an  EU  Pollinator Monitoring  Scheme 
(EUPoMS)5 and stressed the urgent need to implement it in all EU countries. They agreed on 
the importance of increasing long-term commitment to pollinator research, defining pollinator 
monitoring as a strategic priority at the EU and national levels. Experts suggested studying the 
synergistic effects of the various threats to pollinators. An integrated EU monitoring framework 

1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1528213737113&uri=CELEX:52018DC0395  
2 https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13142-EU-pollinators-initiative-revision/public-
consultation_en  
3 https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13142-EU-pollinators-initiative-
revision/feedback_en?p_id=29152302  
4 https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/species/pollinators/policy_en.htm  
5 https://wikis.ec.europa.eu/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=23462107  

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for pollinator conservation should be set up following the DPSIR model6, linking the EUPoMS 
to the monitoring of the drivers, including under the EMBAL7, LUCAS8 and Insignia9 projects. 
The experts also considered that 1) a pollinator indicator should be included in the monitoring 
and evaluation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), 2) open access to available data (e.g. 
under  Integrated  Administration  and  Control  System)  improved,  3)  citizen  science  and 
conventional  methods  better  integrated,  4)  the  digitalisation  of  analogous  data  in  museums 
ensured,  and  5)  the  lack  of  taxonomic  expertise  and  relevant  research  centres  in  Europe 
addressed. EU-level efforts should be linked to global conservation action (e.g. CBD10) 

2.2.  Tackling pollinator decline 

Public consultation 

While  two  in  five  respondents  agreed  that  the  EUPI  overall  addresses  the  key  causes  of 
pollinator decline, an equal number of respondents disagreed. The vast majority of respondents 
felt that efforts need to be stepped up to reduce the impacts of pesticides on pollinators, improve 
pollinator habitats in farmed landscapes, and conserve the most endangered pollinator species 
and their habitats. A significant number of responses to the open question called for a ban or 
restricted  use  of  pesticides  and  highlighted  the  need  to  increase  connectivity  of  pollinator 
habitats and providing permanent pollinator habitats.  

Expert consultation  

In relation to agriculture, experts called for a development of strategic plans of interventions 
for pollinators under the CAP. Experts stressed the key role of farm advisory services, and the 
need to enhance landscape features and connectivity, promote landscape-scale approaches (e.g. 
through collaborative measures), as well as result-based measures. In relation to pest control, 
experts suggested further developing risk assessments and test protocols, as well as harmonised 
risk indicators that fully capture biodiversity impacts. Experts widely agreed on the importance 
of strengthening the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), to be supported by 
guidance for crop-specific IPM practice, as well as a reliable pest monitoring and prediction 
models.  Furthermore,  efforts  are  needed  to  harmonise  risk  mitigation  measures  in  Europe, 
reduce the number of emergency authorisations, and add buffer zones to protected areas.  

Experts  suggested better  integrating pollinator conservation and restoration across  the wider 
landscape and enhancing habitat connectivity. Pollinator conservation should be integrated into 
spatial planning at the national, regional, and local levels and supported by the EU Cohesion 
Policy and National Pollinator Action Plans. Specific to the urban level, suitable management 
options should be fine-tuned to the local environmental context and included in Urban Greening 
Plans. In relation to protected areas, experts supported anchoring pollinator protection in the 

6 DPSIR stands for Drivers, Pressures, State, Impacts and Responses. 
7 https://wikis.ec.europa.eu/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=25560696  
8 https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/lucas  
9 https://wikis.ec.europa.eu/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=36702461  
10 https://www.cbd.int/  

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Habitats Directive. Pollinator conservation should be integrated into Natura 2000 management 
plans, and a minimum of 30% of the EU’s land area should be protected. 

Despite considerable knowledge gaps on the effects of pollutants other than pesticides, experts 
called for immediate actions. In relation to light pollution, experts suggested monitoring light 
pollution, promoting  “dark infrastructure” and restoring  darkness. Targets for reducing light 
pollution could be set up. EU guidelines and standards for biodiversity-friendly lighting sources 
could serve as guidance for citizens and local authorities. To understand better the impacts of 
other  pollutants  (e.g.  air  pollution,  heavy  metals,  biocides,  and  electro-magnetic  radiation), 
knowledge gaps should be filled and standardised tests and risk assessments developed to assess 
their effects on pollinator species and enable concrete policy actions.  

Related to Invasive Alien Species (IAS), specific invasive alien insect and plant species were 
identified  and  prioritised  based  on  their  perceived  threat  to  pollinators.  Experts  suggested 
assessing  threats  to  pollinators  from  relevant  IAS,  including  risk  assessments  for  the  most 
problematic  ones.  Good  practice  guidelines  and  targeted  incentives  for  land  managers  were 
suggested, including management options to remove plant IAS and promote the use of native 
plant species and seed mixes.    

Experts recommended setting up a dedicated policy framework to tackle the effects of climate 
change on pollinators. Spatially explicit pollinator risk maps and prediction models would help 
to identify vulnerable zones for pollinators and develop solutions, including the facilitation of 
pollinator migration under climate change. Pollinator conservation should also be addressed in 
national climate adaptation strategies.   

2.3. 

Strategic planning, engaging the wider society and promoting collaboration 

Public consultation 

A large majority of respondents deemed national or regional pollinator conservation policies in 
their  countries  inexistent  or  insufficient.  Respondents  across  all  stakeholder  groups  broadly 
agreed  on  the  importance  of  raising  awareness,  promoting  multi-stakeholder  platforms  and 
citizen  science,  and  labelling  of  pollinator-friendly  products  (e.g.  in  food,  gardening, 
horticulture,  lighting  solutions).  In  the  open  text  field,  citizens  in  particular  emphasised  the 
importance of information and awareness raising and labelling of pollinator-friendly products.  

Expert consultation  

Experts favoured better inter-sectoral coordination at EU and national level to improve policy 
coherence. A central open-access knowledge platform was widely supported, providing maps, 
resources and tools for taxonomic expertise and citizen science.  

Furthermore, it was suggested to improve dialogue between all relevant stakeholders, further 
develop  a standardised  monitoring of pollinators and  Red  Lists, and address climate change 
adaptation  and  risk  management.  Strategic  partnerships  of  European  cities  and  regions  for 
pollinators, including pesticide  reductions, were  recommended, as  well as  multi-disciplinary 
expert groups on less-represented research fields and pollinator conservation. 

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Experts  also  identified  opportunities  to  improve  knowledge  and  raise  awareness  targeting 
society-at-large, youth, farm advisory services, and key business sectors to promote knowledge 
on biodiversity measures and pollinators.  

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