14/12/2023 (Agence Europe) – “We understand that the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council is exerting considerable pressure on the Member States, including Poland”, reacted Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe) in a letter sent to Donald Tusk, the Polish Prime Minister, on Wednesday 13 December, following the Agriculture Council’s failure to reach a common position on the issue of new genomic techniques (NGT) (see EUROPE 13311/10). The association is calling on Mr Tusk to maintain his country’s position against the proposal submitted by the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council. Luis Planas, the Spanish minister, implied that he was hoping for a change in Poland’s position. Although there is still work to be done and some difficult issues to be resolved, the EU Council can achieve a broadly supported common vision in the coming weeks, according to Garlich von Essen, Secretary General of Euroseeds. (LC)