GMOs

Greens/EFA Group Co-presidents Daniel Cohn-Bendit and Monica Frassoni have written to the other political group presidents and European Commission President Barroso to express concern about the Commission's attempts to force through authorisation of highly-controversial genetically-modified plant varieties in the EU. They reject the Commission's assertion that such action is necessary following a WTO dispute settlement panel decision on the issue.

Cohn-Bendit and Frassoni warn that they will seek to initiate a motion of censure against the Commission (1) if it fails to respect Council decisions from December last year on this matter or commit to a number of measures (annexed to their letter), including a moratorium on authorising new GM varieties that do not meet certain criteria.

The letters to the EP political group presidents and the Commission are attached. The letter to President Barroso states:

"We are very concerned about the manner in which you are trying to force through the authorisation of highly controversial genetically modified plant varieties in the EU.

"Last Monday, the Council rejected by qualified majority the proposal to lift the bans in Hungary and Austria on the authorisation of the GMO maize variety MON810. On two previous occasions (2006 and 2007), when asking for lifting of bans, you have received similar signals of caution from a majority of Member States based on qualified doubts about impacts of the cultivation of GMO varieties on public health, biodiversity and farming.

"Instead of taking these concerns seriously, you have chosen to increase pressure in order to promote the cultivation of GMOs in the EU - against clear opposition from the majority of citizens, against the objections of your own competent Commissioner colleagues and against serious doubts repeatedly expressed by a substantial number of ministers of environment of EU Member States."

Notes to editors

(1) A motion of censure requires the support of 10% of MEPs to be tabled and a two-thirds majority of votes and absolute majority of members to be passed. (Rule 100 of the rules of procedure.)

Annex:

Press Service of the Greens/EFA Group
in the European Parliament

Chris Coakley,
Press Officer,
The Greens/EFA in the European Parliament
Tel: Brussels +32 2 2841667 / Strasburg +33 3 88174375
Mobile: +32-477-44-38-42
Fax: 0032 2 2844944
email: ccoakley@europarl.europa.eu