East Midlands MEP backs initiative to support bees

East Midlands MEP Emma McClarkin has this week backed an initiative to raise awareness of the importance of bees in our society.

The Conservative politician has added her signature to a cross-party Written Declaration which has been put forward by five different parties within the European Parliament. The initiative has called upon the European Council and the European Commission to “promote further study, convening a group of experts to assess available evidence on pollinator declines and to determine the extent and the possible causes of colony losses in order to plan future EU action on a solid and objective scientific basis.”

This Written Declaration has come in response to a report from the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations which has estimated that 71 of the 100 crop species that provide 90% of food worldwide are pollinated by bees.

If more than half of MEPs sign the Written Declaration, the issue will then be raised with the European Commission.

Miss McClarkin said:

“It is clear that bees play such an important role in our ecosystem and with that in mind, I am delighted to support this initiative. As this report has been put forward by a number of different parties, including the European Conservatives and Reformists, of which UK Conservatives are a part, I am confident that it will achieve a great deal of support and raise awareness of the need to protect bees within our society.”