The European Commission unveiled a proposal aimed at cutting pesticide use in the European Union by 50 percent by 2030 and accelerating the restoration of damaged ecosystems across forests, farmland, and marine areas. The plan includes a substantial budget of 100 billion euros to support these restoration efforts.
Brussels intends to tighten rules to halve pesticide usage by 2030, aligning with the European Green Deal and the goal of sustainable food systems. The current Sustainable Pesticide Use directive is deemed insufficient, and the proposed measures seek to strengthen safeguards while ensuring food security.
Farmers would be encouraged to adopt non-chemical pest prevention and control methods, with chemical pesticides considered a last resort.
To implement this, EU member states would define crop-specific rules that promote alternatives to chemical pesticides. Practices such as crop rotation and precision farming could play a central role, according to statements from Timmermans reported by European press agencies. He emphasized the targeted, flexible approach for different crops and regions.
Replace them with sustainable alternatives
Stella Kyriakides, the Health and Food Safety Commissioner, stressed that pesticides are not being banned, but that safer, sustainable substitutes should replace them where possible. She noted that the proposal avoids one-size-fits-all solutions and that the plan includes economic support for farmers over the next five years.
EU officials describe this as a transition package that helps farmers shift to eco-friendly practices while maintaining agricultural productivity.
Therefore, the regulation includes a policy package to assist farmers in transitioning to a more sustainable system of food production, with measures under the Common Agricultural Policy to offset transition costs over the next five years and support the expansion of biological alternatives.
Additionally, the package bans pesticide use in sensitive zones such as parks, recreational areas, public roads, and urban green spaces, in line with Natura 2000 protections for threatened pollinators.
The Brussels proposal sets clear national targets and a framework for post-2024 milestones. Member States would report to the European Commission on implementation progress and meet common benchmarks as they roll out the regulation.
100,000 million for the restoration of European ecosystems
The Commission also introduced a legislative pathway for restoring natural ecosystems with targets to recover 20 percent of Europe’s natural habitats by 2030 and to extend restoration to all at-risk ecosystems by 2050.
Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, said the plan goes beyond aesthetics. It aims to strengthen carbon sinks and address the climate crisis through biodiversity investments.
The measure allocates 100 billion euros for biodiversity and restoration targets, including reversing pollinator declines by 2030 and preventing any net loss of urban green spaces with a 5 percent increase planned by 2050.
Efforts are also aimed at expanding vegetation in cities and restoring key habitats, including marine kelp forests and coastal wetlands, while advancing green spaces integrated into buildings and infrastructure and protecting iconic species such as dolphins and certain shark populations.
Forestry management will extend to farmland, aquatic, and urban ecosystems to improve natural area biodiversity, build climate resilience, and support food security and human health.
It is noted that a sizable share of European habitats remains degraded, and wetlands have declined in parts of Western Europe since 1970. The new legislation, grounded in Natura 2000 network directives, will set restoration targets to safeguard a broad range of terrestrial and marine habitats and mitigate disaster impacts such as floods and droughts.
Further updates and details are anticipated as policy work progresses.