Brussels, 22/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - Just prior to leaving for her summer break, German Chancellor Angela Merkel severely criticised the European Commission regarding two key legislative proposals - that for putting an end, in 2014, to operating aid granted to uncompetitive coal mines (EUROPE 10185), and that for leaving member sates the possibility of restricting or banning authorised GMO crops on their territory (EUROPE 10180). “The least I can say is that I am not delighted”, commented Merkel when addressing the press on 21 July, in Berlin. “It would not have been a bad thing if the Commission had spoken to the member states about it” before putting its proposals forward, the chancellor said. Germany, it is known, gives considerable financial support to its coal industry, allocating nearly €2 billion annually to the sector. Berlin had planned to put an end to this in 2018, i.e. four years later than proposed by the Commission. The problem is that the Liberal Party (FDP), which is a partner of the CDU/CSU under Merkel in the governmental coalition, supports the Commission proposal.
The German chancellor also attacked the Commission in relation to its GMO policy. The proposal aimed at leaving member states the choice of restricting or banning EU-authorised GMO crops on their territory could jeopardise the internal market, she said. “If we go on like this, it will be the end of the internal market”, she told journalists on Wednesday. (H.B./transl.jl)