The Greens in the European Parliament denounced, on 9 March in Strasbourg, the European Commission president’s “rush” to authorise the cultivation of a transgenic potato, by holding up signs stating ‘For a GMO-free Europe’ at the plenary session. For the first time in 12 years, the Commission has just authorised the cultivation of a genetically modified plant, a potato developed by the German firm BASF, eliciting an outcry among ecologists (see Europolitics3930).

“I salute your group’s enthusiasm. You have a very strong position against GMOs, which is your right,” said José Manuel Barroso. “Personally, I do not have a position either for or against [...]. The Commission goes by the opinions of the European Food Safety Authority,” he explained. The EU countries are very divided over GMOs, recognised Barroso. If no majority emerges, the Commission has to take a decision on whether or not to authorise them. At the same time, the rules are going to be made more flexible. “The Commission plans to propose to give countries the possibility to cultivate such crops or not, as they wish,” he added. “If we start putting a finger in nationalisation, we won’t have a European policy,” warned French Green MEP José Bové. The Greens denounce the Commission’s ‘fait accompli’ approach.