Commission and Council won't compromise on key issues, including traceability and labelling

Yesterday, the leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament met for the last time before what should in theory have been the final negotiation meeting between the Parliament, the Council and the European Commission (trilogue) on 30 June. But today, rapporteur Ms Jessica Polfjard asked the Council to cancel the trilogue.

Since 22 April, the date of the first trilogue, there have been no fewer than 15 technical meetings and two meetings of the political group leaders in the European Parliament. But no progress has been made.

MEP Christophe Clergeau said the Commission and the Council have done nothing to find a compromise on six key issues:
- the restriction of authorisation to new GMOs that are intended to benefit the sustainable development of agriculture and food
- defining categories for new GMOs
- monitoring of environmental impact, the possibility of withdrawal in the event of health or environmental problems, and protection of the organic and GM-free sectors
- traceability throughout the food chain and labelling on consumer products, which is essential for consumer information: it is vital that European citizens can make informed choices about what they eat
- the protection of GMO/NGT-free agricultural sectors, including organic farming
- the issue of the patentability of these new GMOs, which would put the knife to the throat of European farmers and small seed companies.

"I deplore the total absence of a spirit of compromise on this text," said Christophe Clergeau. "It could go on like this for a long time if the Council and the Commission continue to stick to their guns and ignore Parliament's position, which was voted on twice in plenary session. They bear the responsibility for this stalemate."

He warned: "With four days to go before a crucial negotiation meeting with the Commission and the Council, the right and extreme right seemed ready to sell out all the issues of traceability, free choice for consumers and protection of GMO-free organic sectors in order to reach an agreement at any price. I will oppose this with all my might."

Clergeau commented on the deregulation proposal in a strong statement on BlueSky: "With new GMOs, you soon won't know what you're eating! Citizens must have the right to know what they're consuming. Traceability, labelling, transparency – these are the minimum requirements for choice in a democracy."

Clergeau is calling for a change of method: hearings on key issues to find legally and scientifically reliable definitions, particularly on questions as fundamental as the definition of categories of new GMOs and the patentability of living organisms.

Euractiv commented that expectations are not high for the file to be concluded on the last day of the Polish presidency of the Council of the EU. It added that Denmark says it will continue work on it as a high priority if it isn't resolved by the time it takes over the presidency on 1 July. Denmark is strongly in favour of GMO deregulation.

The statements by ministers at the Council are here. France was openly against consumer labelling and environmental monitoring. Romania and Slovenia supported consumer labelling. 

Source: Christophe Clergeau MEP, Euractiv, Council of the EU. M. Clergeau's press release translated from the French by Deepl and GMWatch.