Brussels, 17/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - The socio-economic aspects of GMO crops will be at the heart of the conference organised by the European Commission on Tuesday 18 October in Brussels. This conference will include all stakeholders: member state representatives, the European Parliament, the agri-food industry and agricultural unions. John Dalli, the European commissioner for consumer health and protection, is thus keeping a promise to establish a transparent dialogue on GMOs in a series of different debates. The different discussion panels will tackle an introductory but inconclusive report published on 15 April by the Commission on the socio-economic impact of GMO crops on the entire EU food chain (EUROPE 10360). The socio-economic aspects of GMO crops in third countries and the existence of segregated genetically modified and conventional/organic crops will also be discussed. An initial debate on the assessment and management of risks linked to GMOs was organised by the Commission on 17 March last. (AN/transl.fl)