Brussels, 14/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - Acting on information that the Barroso Commission might proceed to the authorisation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on Wednesday 15 October during the weekly college of commissioners' meeting, the co-leaders of the Greens/EFA Group at the European Parliament sent a letter to President-elect Jean-Claude Junker. The purpose of the letter was to draw his attention to the “untimely nature… such a sensitive decision… by a Commission at the end of its mandate” would have, and to encourage Junker to intervene and “take responsibility for this important dossier”.
Asked to confirm whether the authorisation of GMOs was indeed on the college's Wednesday agenda, Frédéric Vincent, a spokesman for Commissioner Tonio Borg, denied it and told EUROPE that “it is not on the agenda. Not this time”.
There was a significant risk that the setting up of the Junker Commission would be delayed and it has still not been ruled out that these decisions, including some announced as imminent (see EUROPE 11100), could be included on the college agenda before the effective departure of the Barroso Commission.
In their letter to Juncker, Rebecca Harms (Greens/EFA, Germany) and Philippe Lamberts (Greens/EFA, Belgium) wrote: “your recent positions on the authorisation procedure for genetically modified organisms obtained the support of some MEPs from the Greens/EFA Group. You yourself judged this procedure as lacking at 'a scientific and democratic level' when you met the Greens/EFA Group on 9 July. It would appear that Mr Barroso does not share the same opinion and would like to give the go-ahead for eight new GMOs, as well as renewing authorisation for a ninth, taking advantage of the meeting of the outgoing college of commissioners planned for 15 October”.
Harms and Lamberts again highlight the fear expressed on many different occasions by those critical of GMOs that the Barroso Commission is leaving this decision as a “parting gift” to manufacturers expecting authorisation for their products - having been the subject of a favourable opinion by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). It is a gift that the Greens/EFA believe can only be poisoned. (AN)