These conclusions highlight the role of EU honeybee population (Apis mellifera) which participates to the biological diversity and plays an essential role in agriculture by pollination. The importance of devoting attention to honeybee health, as these sensitive animals are early indicators of the adverse effects of the loss of biodiversity and pollution is also stressed. 

As a recent increase in bee mortality has been reported in several countries both within and outside the EU raised strong concerns in several honey producing member states, the Council consider that it should be appropriate to improve the surveillance systems and the scientific knowledge about bee health. 

The conclusions note that communication covers all aspects of honeybee health, including animal health, veterinary medicines and research, and clarifies the key issues relating to honeybee health and key actions that the Commission intends to take to address them. The conclusions support the actions to be launched rapidly, such as the creation of a Community Reference Laboratory and long-term issues on strengthening bee disease monitoring or improving accessibility to veterinary medicinal products for bees. 

The Council recalls that EU has established certain harmonised rules to protect and maintain the health of bees, while Member States may regulate other aspects of beekeeping and related activities.

At the Agriculture Council in January 2011, several member states highlighted already the importance of honeybees in EU agriculture and welcomed the actions proposed in the communication. Some of the delegations insisted on the importance of taking account of national specificities and of relying on subsidiarity for any action on beekeeping.