Bees and other wild pollinators are not being protected from decline by the EU, with loopholes even allowing for the use of banned pesticides known to be major killers of key species.

A report from the European court of auditors has found that Brussels' efforts to prevent the decline of bees, wasps, hoverflies, butterflies, moths, and beetles have been largely ineffective.

Just one full-time official within the European commission has been tasked with working on an EU "pollinators initiative" launched with great fanfare two years ago.