Source: European Parliament
16.10.2024
Question for written answer E-002110/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Christine Schneider (PPE)
In Germany, people who are competent and regularly take part in training courses are authorised to apply pesticides professionally. The certificate of competence is based on Directive 2009/128/EC, which aims to ensure that pesticides are used sustainably in the EU. The EU Member States have drawn up national action plans to implement the measures laid down in the directive. Accordingly, certificates of competence are implemented at national level and are valid only in the issuing Member State. Many companies are faced with the problem of a shortage of skilled workers, while at the same time long-standing employees from other Member States who can safely apply plant protection products are unable to obtain the relevant certificate of competence at their place of work due to language barriers.
- 1.To what extent does the Commission consider an EU-wide certificate of competence for the application of plant protection products to be useful, and how could it be implemented in practice?
- 2.How can agricultural businesses deploy employees who have obtained the certificate of competence in one Member State and now work in another Member State, whose official language they do not speak fluently, when it comes to the application of plant protection products?
Submitted: 16.10.2024