GMOs

The Greens/EFA Co-Presidents' briefing

LIVE press conference 2 February 2016 10:30-10:50

Greens/EFA co-presidents Rebecca Harms and Philippe Lamberts present the key issues of the plenary session and of the European agenda for the Greens/EFA group

Health vs. wealth

Why what we eat could be killing us – and why no one cares

This is a strange story, a tale that at first glance appears to be a work of pure fiction, of things that cannot possibly happen in real life. And yet every single word of it is true: from the bullying big corporations to the timid and toothless legislators; from the shocking evidence of widespread use of dangerous ingredients in our food to the staggering display of arrogance and indifference on the part of those in the know. Above all, it is a tale of typical 21st century law-making – where lobbies rule the roost and even public health is of secondary interest to the pursuit of profit.

Our meat production and consumption also warms the planet

by Florent Marcellesi, EQUO (Spanish Greens) spokesperson in the European Parliament (@fmarcellesi) and the EQUO Animal Rights Group (@equoanimales).   If we are what we eat, nowadays we are, without doubt, climate change. Our diets, rich in animal proteins, fed by an intensive industrial...

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Issue n° 17 January 2016

On 20th January, the European Parliament, following the initiative by Greens/EFA MEP Keith Taylor, voted to reject draft EU rules on baby food, which would have allowed baby foods to contain far higher levels of sugar than those recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 14-18 December 2015

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg plenary included preventing approval of a genetically-modified maize variety; car pollution laws and real driving emissions tests; Europe's energy future; updating EU border and coastguard rules; finalising EU data protection reform; EU summit: refugee crisis and Paris attacks top agenda; Dieselgate, car pollution rules and the EU response; Sakharov Prize award for Raif Badawi; Hungary and basic democratic values; EU arms export rules: EU must prevent arms going to repressive regimes and terrorists.

GMO authorisation

Scandalous authorisation of GM maize underlines need to overhaul EU approval procedure

The European Parliament voted to object to a decision by the European Commission to authorise a new glyphosate-resistant GM maize variety (NK603 x T25) for use in the EU. Commenting after the vote, Green food safety spokesperson Bart Staes said: “In objecting to the authorisation of this GM maize...

Why soil matters?

Video about the importance of high soil quality

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Issue n°16 November 2015

GREEN INSIGHT INTO EU FOOD POLICY Novel Foods: Greens won't mess with citizens' health and freedom of choice Animal Welfare: A weak vote showing little appetite for improvement of animals' rights. Conference Why Soil matters?: 1st feedback

GMO authorisation

MEPs issue rebuke to EU Commission on authorisation of GM maize variety

The European Parliament's environment committee today voted to object to a decision by the European Commission to authorise a new GM maize variety (NK603 x T25) for use in the EU. The objection, which will now be voted on by the parliament as a whole, is not binding but sends a strong political sig...

Toxic substances

Glyphosate warnings played down by EFSA; Commission must apply precautionary principle

The European Food Safety Authority today issued its re-evaluation of the controversial substance glyphosate, which is used as a herbicide, ahead of a decision by the European Commission next year on whether to reapprove glyphosate for use in the EU.  The EFSA opinion, which recommends reapprova...

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 26-29 October 2015

Greens/EFA priorities for the Brussels plenary included EP tax investigation; preventing the trade in torture products; strengthening the European citizens' initiative; refugee crisis and EU governments' response; Diesel gate and the EU car pollution rules; A real end to roaming and protection of net neutrality; Commission work programme and better regulation; Gender equality at the European Court of Justice; Reforming GMO food and feed authorisations in Europe; EU air pollution rules; Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought.

GMO authorisation

EU Parliament rejects flawed GMO food and feed opt-outs proposal

The European Parliament today voted to reject a proposal by the European Commission for a new scheme under which EU member states could opt out of EU authorisations for genetically-modified food and feed (1). After the vote, Green food safety spokesperson Bart Staes said: “The European Parliament...