13/09/2017 (Agence Europe) – Monsanto has refused to take part in the public hearing in the European Parliament on 11 October to shed light on the “Monsanto Papers” – a refusal which MEPs Marc Tarabella (S&D) and Éric Andrieu (S&D), who called for the hearing, described on Wednesday 13 September as “insulting to the EU’s 500 million citizens” who are exposed to the American multinational’s pesticides, such as glyphosate (see EUROPE 11813). Monsanto’s categorical refusal to attend was contained in a letter in which it argued that Parliament was not the appropriate forum and accused Parliament of “populism”. The hearing will go ahead nonetheless, the two MEPs confirmed, judging the multinational’s response to be “as defensive as it is outrageous”. They now more than ever hope that a Parliamentary committee of enquiry will be set up. (AN)