6 December 2010.: The EU Commission has adopted a communication providing for a series of specific actions aimed at better understanding the worldwide issue of high bee mortality, and at finding solutions to the problem.

The communication clarifies key issues related to bee health and outlines key actions the Commission intends to take to address them. It is intended as basis for further discussion with the EU Council and Parliament as well as member state authorities and stakeholders.

The Communication contains sections on: the EU bee keeping sector; problems affecting bee health; the EU animal health framework for bees; availability of veterinary medicines for bees; food safety aspects; pesticides; genetically modified organisms; protecting bees by addressing biodiversity loss; the common agricultural policy and bee health; research on bee health; communicating bee health issues; and links to international activities. The communication concludes that ongoing activities must be continued and where necessary enforced, and it announces that the Commission will initiate discussions in the appropriate fora to obtain feedback, encouraging all relevant stakeholders to participate in a constructive and transparent manner. [The Communication] [EU Commission activities on bees]