16/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - The polemic is not easing off in Germany with regard to the European Commission exploring the possibility of introducing a "made in the EU" label (EUROPE 13 January p 12). European Commissioner for Trade Pascal Lamy was keen to point out in the pages of the Münchner Merkur, that for the instant they were simply at a stage of debate and that even if the Commission was expected to produce a proposal in this direction, the label "Made in Germany" would continue to exist. CSU MEPs, Inigo Friedrich and Joachim Wuermeling have harshly criticised this project. In a press statement on 16 January the latter attacked the entire Commission, noting that in the same week, "Commissioners had sought to double the EU budget and Commissioner for Consumers David Byrne had sought to ban smoking in restaurants…What planet are these good sirs living on?" he asked, criticising the Prodi Commission for promising Turkey that it would receive the same treatment as other candidates.