Brussels, 26/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - The debate on GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and procedures for authorising their cultivation was relaunched in Luxembourg on 25 June, at an informal exchange of views in the Environment Council (see EUROPE 9928). This issue, raised at the request of Austria which wants the Commission very quickly to review Community legislation to give member states the choice of agreeing to, or refusing, the planting of GMOs, created a debate which ratcheted up the pressure on the European Commission. Austrian minister Nikolaus Berlakovitch pointed out that, in unanimously agreed conclusions, the Environment Council of December 2008 (under French Presidency) had called on the Commission to review authorisation procedures and scientific assessment so that more account is taken of the long-term environmental impact of GMOs, and that the Netherlands had, in March 2009, called for the principle of subsidiarity (Article 5 of the Treaty) to be applied.
In its response, the European Commission once again stalled for time, pointing out that a study was being carried out on the socio-economic impact of GMO crops.
10 delegations back the Austrian call, based on the subsidiarity principle (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Slovenia).
Of the 14 delegations which spoke after Austria (Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and the United Kingdom), some gave qualified support. Portugal called for a period of reflection, Germany does not yet have a governmental position on this issue, France said that the subsidiarity debate must not be allowed to overshadow the reform of the authorisation procedure called for in December of last year. “First of all, we want a review of expert opinions. France does not want any ambiguity. Subsidiarity must not be allowed to bury the other issue,” French Secretary of State Chantal Juanno told press. If subsidiarity means that a member state can refuse permission for commercial crops, then France is for it. “But if it means crops no matter the expert opinion, then we're against it,” she added.
Italy and Spain (Spain is the only member state where an authorised Monsanto GMO is cultivated) opposed the Austrian request.
When asked by press about the likelihood of the Commission's amending the legislation, Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas replied, “The conclusions of the Council of December 2008 called on the Commission to carry out a study of socio-economic factors related to GMO crops. The opinions of member states are what they are. The outcome of the study will be taken into account by the Commission”. The report is expected to be published in autumn, he said. (A.N./transl.rt)