Europe farmers protests: EU scraps plans to halve pesticide use

The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has announced plans to scrap a proposal halving pesticide use across the EU. The move is an apparent concession to farmers who have been protesting in many EU countries against regulations including the planned reduction in pesticide use. Ms von der Leyen said the proposal had become a “symbol of polarisation”. The reversal still needs to be formally approved.