The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament has threatened the European Commission with censure if it pushes ahead with the authorisation of a new GMO crop variety for cultivation, despite having a record 19 governments opposing and 4 member states abstaining.
Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said: “Why is the EU Comission showing all this disdain for the democratic process? Why is the Commission so keen on going ahead despite the strong opposition of European governments, including Malta, whom we commend? Is the EU Commission more interested in pushing the interests of the big GMO companies than safegurding the health of EU citizens?”
Commenting on the situation, Greens/EFA co-president Dany Cohn-Bendit stated: “Pushing ahead with the authorisation of this GM maize variety, against the background of clear opposition in the Council and the European Parliament, would demonstrate a disdain for the democratic process by the European Commission. This is not to mention the consistent and determined public opposition to GMOs in Europe.This issue is a test of European democracy and, if the Commission doggedly pursues the authorisation of GM maize 1507 in spite of this democratic opposition, we will launch a motion of censure in the European Parliament.”
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Il-Grupp tal-Greens/EFA fil-Parlament Ewropew wissa lill-Kummissjoni Ewropeja li lest jippreżenta mozzjoni ta’ ċensura jekk hija tibqa’ għaddejja bl-awtorizzazzjoni tal-kultivazzjoni ta’ prodott ġdid tar-raba’ li huwa ġenetikament modifikat, minkejja li hemm 19-il gvern li qeghdin jopponu din il-proposta u 4 stati membri li qegħdin jastjenu.
Iċ-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “Għalfejn il-Kummissjoni Ewropeja mhix qegħda tirrispetta l-proċess demokratiku? Għalfejn hija daqshekk ħerqana biex tibqa’ għaddejja minkejja l-oppożizzjoni minn Gvernijiet Ewropej, inkluż Malta, pożizzjoni li aħna nappoggjaw? Forsi l-Kummissjoni Ewropeja hija aktar interessata li taqdi l-interessi tal-kumpaniji l-kbar tal-GMOs milli li tħares is-saħħa taċ-ċittadini tal-UE?”
F’kumment dwar is-sitwazzjoni, il-ko-president tal-Greens/EFA, Dany Cohn-Bendit,qal: “L-approvazzjoni tat-tkabbir ta’ din il-varjeta’ ta’ qamħirrum, f’kuntest ta’ oppożizzjoni ċara kemm fil-Kunsill u fil-Parlament Ewropew, tkun tfisser disprezz għall-proċess demokratiku mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea. Dan minbarra l-oppożizzjoni kontinwa u determinata tal-pubbliku għal prodotti ġenetikament modifikati fl-Ewropa. Din il-kwistjoni hija prova għad-demokrazija Ewropea, u, jekk il-Kummissjoni twebbes rasha u tawtorizza dan il-qamħirrun GM 1507 minkejja din l-oppożizzjoni demokratika, aħna lesti nippreżentaw mozzjoni ta’ ċensura fil-Parlament Ewropew.”
