Press release - December 20, 2010
Brussels, International — Environment ministers will today discuss the outcome of the
recent Cancun climate conference and the next steps that the EU should take to implement the agreements. Ministers will also continue their assessment of a controversial European Commission proposal that allegedly gives EU countries the ability to ban GM crops on their territory.
EU climate policy director Joris den Blanken said: "World leaders chose hope over fear in Cancun. Now EU ministers need to carry that momentum forwards and put words into action by increasing their climate ambition."
He added: "In Cancun, India, Japan and even China made concessions. EU ministers were often left on the sidelines, with little new to offer beyond their 20 percent carbon target agreed already three years ago. An increase in carbon cuts is a pre-requisite for EU negotiators to play a role in future negotiations and to unlock the benefits of a green economy."
During the climate talks earlier this month, the EU and other industrial countries agreed that a 25-40 percent cut in missions is required to steer clear of a global climate disaster.
Commission proposal on GM crops
Discussions on the Commission's proposal that claims to give EU countries the right to ban GM crops are likely to continue into next year. So far, several EU governments have rejected the proposal or called for substantial amendments.
Greenpeace EU agriculture policy adviser Stefanie Hundsdorfer said: "The Commission proposal needs to be significantly improved to allow countries to ban GM crops based on scientific evidence on environmental and health risks. It's now two years since all 27 EU countries called for stronger safety testing for GM crops. EU ministers must press the Commission to reform its policy on GM crops and clean up the troubled EU food authority."
Two weeks ago, Greenpeace and Avaaz delivered the first-ever European Citizens' Initiative to the European Commission. Over one million Europeans called on the Commission to freeze authorisations of GM crops until safety testing is made independent and scientific. [1]
Notes:
[1] See: http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/press-centre/press-releases2/first-citizens-initiative