Saint Cloud, 04/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - Accepting a priority of the French Presidency, which wants to improve assessment and authorisation procedures for GMOs in the EU, on 4 July, the informal Environment Council in Saint Cloud gave the go-ahead to the creation of a Council ad hoc working group. On 2 July, COREPER acknowledged the usefulness of putting in place such a new body to help take reflection forward. French Secretary of State Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet told press that this was not in any way an attempt to put EFSA's assessments into question, but to “improve its capabilities”, extend the scope of the assessment and consider the possibility for member states “to declare areas GMO-free”. The targeted discussions of the working group would complement the reflection of the sherpa group set up by Commission President José Manuel Barroso which will begin work in September. A policy debate is planned for the October Environment Council. EUROEO will return to this. (A.N./trnasl.rt)