European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen's decision to withdraw a proposal that would have forced farmers to drastically reduce their reliance on chemical pesticides marks an abrupt end to Belgium's attempt to recast the legislation as a tool to promote greener alternatives.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen’s decision to withdraw her administration’s proposal to halve chemical pesticide across the EU came as a surprise to its member states, whose delegates were discussing this week a Belgian suggestion to abandon the headline target but replace it with an increased focus on alternative ways of protecting crops.

Von der Leyen’s decision to torpedo the bill – announced today (6 February) in the European parliament to applause from the centre-right EPP group, her former political home – had already been taken the previous day, while an unknowing inter-governmental working party was discussing Belgium’s compromise proposal.

The current EU Council presidency holder was trying to keep the proposed Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR) afloat despite its rejection in November by the European Parliament.

It has now thrown in the towel. A Belgian diplomatic source confirmed that the presidency had been unaware of the intentions of von der Leyen’s cabinet until she made her speech to a largely empty debating chamber in Strasbourg. An official from another EU national delegation told Euronews, with the benefit of hindsight, that the commission representative had been “suspiciously quiet” during yesterday's (5 January) meeting.