THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

 underlines the importance of pollinators to the sustainability of our societies and nature. Pollinators play a key role both in food systems and in maintaining biodiversity and landscapes. It is therefore not only domesticated pollinators that need support; viable habitats for wild pollinators must also be provided, as they are a part of nature's biodiversity. Domesticated pollinators should be seen as a complement to wild pollinators, and not the other way around;

 highlights the possibilities and responsibilities of local and regional authorities in accelerating the implementation of the Pollinators Initiative, now and even more so in the future;

 welcomes the positive direction taken by the EU Pollinators Initiative when implemented in 2018. Is concerned to note, however, that since then, the trend of a declining pollinator population has continued. Is thankful that the IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services concludes that, despite insufficient action, it is not too late for the climate and for biodiversity, but that transformative action is needed at all levels;

 supports, therefore, the conclusions of the Special Report 15/2020 by the European Court of Auditors and has high expectations for the revision of the EU Pollinators Initiative;

 calls for legally binding targets whose scope covers pollinators, as part of the upcoming European Commission initiative on nature restoration targets under the EU biodiversity strategy; In this light, offers to support the implementation of a new EU Pollinators Initiative, in particular regarding the implementation and monitoring of activities;

 calls on the Commission to address the decline of pollinators internationally and to advocate strong measures to protect pollinators and their habitats during the second part of the CBD COP15, scheduled to take place from 25 April to 8 May 2022 in Kunming, China;

 stands ready to be part of the EU delegation to the UN CBD COP15 and future CBD COPs in order to share the views of local and regional authorities in the EU and the measures they have already implemented and also to help build on the success of the Edinburgh Declaration in the field of protecting pollinators and their habitats.