Ref. Ares(2016)2137120 - 04/05/2016
Ref. Ares(2016)5579867 - 27/09/2016
EUROPEAN WEEK OF BEES AND POLLINATORS - 5TH EDITION
Bees caring for Europeans. Europeans caring for bees?
13th - 17th June 2016
Brussels - European Parliament
Hosted by
MEP Mariya Gabriel
Chair of the “Apiculture & Bee Health” working group of the EP Intergroup
“Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development”
Since 2012, the European Week of Bees
and Pollinators takes place annually in the European
Parliament offering the opportunity for stakehold
ers to meet and exchange views. Representatives of the
European institutions, national institutions, of the b eekeeping sector, farmers, NGOs, Scientifics from all
fields related to bees and biodiversity gather to discuss the current challenges and formulate
recommendations to be addressed to policy makers. The European Week of Bees and Pollinators also aims
at raising awareness and keeping bee health and the beekeeping sector on the European agenda.
This Fifth edition of the European Week of Bees and Pollinators will aim at reminding the crucial
and irreplaceable role played by bees and pollinators for the conservation of biodiversity and preservation
of the environment suitable for human life and activities. The continued decrease of bee population and
the difficulties faced by the beekeeping sector remain very worrying. Bees are providing invaluable services
to Europeans, including by contributing to food security both in quantitative and qualitative terms. The
question that remains is what are Europeans doing for bees? The international conference will point out
the gaps and missing elements in European polici
es and tools to protect bees and pollinators and in
definitive their own quality of life and health. The p anels will also open the discussion on specific issues
such as pesticides, the evaluation of the new Co
mmon Agricultural Policy impact after two years of
implementation by Member States and the question
of labelling and traceability.
Programme of the Fifth edition of the
EUROPEAN WEEK OF BEES AND POLLINATORS
Monday, 13th of June
Scientific Symposium at the University of Gembloux
Beekeepers and farmers Forum at the European Parliament
Tuesday, 14th of June
International conference at the European Parliament
09.00 - 10.00:
Inauguration of the Bee Village on the Esplanade of the
European Parliament
Inauguration in presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and Mrs Mairead McGuinness,
Vice-President of the European Parliament
10.00 - 11.00:
Opening session of the International Conference
Welcoming and introduction by
MEP Mariya Gabriel, Vice-Chair of the Intergroup on Climate
Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable development, Chair of the Working Group on
Apiculture and Bee Health
Keynote address by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco
Opening address by
Mr. Phil Hogan, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural
Development (tbc)
Opening address by
Mr. Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director and Under-Secretary-
General of the United Nations (tbc)
Opening address by
Mr. Philip McCabe, President of
Apimondia
Opening address by
Mr. Pekka Pesonen, Secretary General of the
Copa Cogeca
Opening address by
Mr. Gaston Franco, former MEP and founder of the European Week of
Bees and Pollinators
11.00 - 13.00:
PANEL I - BEES CARING FOR EUROPEANS
The first panel will evidence or remind the extraordinary contribution made by pollinators to our food security,
not only in quantitative but also qualitative (nutritional) terms. Moreover, the bee is a very good bio-indicator of
the quality of the agricultural environment. However, bee mortality and the decline of bee and pollinator
populations, due to different factors, threaten in the medium and long term our food security and health. The
discussion will also bring panellists and participants to address the balance to be found between an agricultural
model matching needs in the short term, but also guaranteeing the food security and health of Europeans in the
longer run, by preserving bee health.
Chaired by MEP Czesław Adam SIEKIERSKI, Chair of the AGRI Committee
Report from the Beekeepers and farmers Forum held on the 13th of June - Etienne Bruneau Chairman
of the Copa Cogeca Working Party on Honey
1) Pollinators contribution to food security and Europeans' health
- Food and nutrition security - role of pollination in enhancing food production - ecological intensification.
2) A new agricultural model, the missing element?
- Impact of pesticides - bioaccumulation: EU state of play on neonicotinoids ban; chronic effect of pesticides.
- Collaborative models: what cooperation between beekeepers and farmers?
15.00 - 17.00:
PANEL II - EUROPEANS CARING FOR BEES?
The second panel will aim at identifying and coordinating both the sectorial and transversal actions to be
undertaken in order to protect bees and pollinators. A state of play will be made about the beekeeping sector,
from the economic point of view, wondering which leverages could be used to make it a profitable and
attractive sector taking as well into account the traceability and competition with foreign beehive products.
Moreover, the panellist will consider the results of the national programmes in favour of bees and beekeepers
within the new Common Agricultural Policy. Then the panel will consider the use of transversal policies such as
the biodiversity, climate change and research policies. Chaired by MEP Alojz PETERLE
Report from the Scientific Symposium held on the 13th of June at the University of Gembloux
1) What support for European beekeepers?
- Results of the new CAP, attractiveness of the beekeeping sector including for youth
- Traceability and prevent competition with non-EU beehive products ('Chinese honey')
- Beekeepers' access to updated information and training, local breeding of queen bees
2) Biodiversity conservation, climate change and research policies as leverage
- State of play of the integration of pollinators in biodiversity policies (Global assessment of pollinators)
- Impact of climate change on bee population in the medium and long term
- Role of research and development
17.00 - 18.00:
Conclusive session
MEP Mariya GABRIEL, Vice-Chair of the Intergroup on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable
development, Chair of the Working Group on Apiculture and Bee Health
18.00 - 19.00:
Cocktail reception hosted by Members of the Working
Group on Apiculture and Bee Health
Wednesday, 15th of June
18.00 - 20.00 : Movie screening in the European Parliament
Thursday, 16th of June
Activities and presentations at the Bee Village