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Greenpeace European Unit
Marco Contiero
Greenpeace European [email protected]
The European Citizens InitiativeEmpowering the citizens' rights
European Economic and Social CommitteeBrussels
29 June 2011
“We call on you to put a moratorium on the introduction of GM crops into Europe and set up an independent, ethical, scientific body to research the impact of GM crops and determine regulation.”
Greenpeace European Unit
WHEN and WHY the Initiative?
• March 2010
• EC authorization BASF antibiotic-resistant GM potato
• Disregard to: 1. EU legal requirements, 2. EU members states will3. Public opinion4. Advice of medical institutions (WHO, EMEA)
1. Health Risks
Greenpeace European Unit
2. Environmental impacts
Insect-resistant crops:
1. Toxicity to ‘non-target’ organisms and beneficial insects.
2. Development of insect resistance
Herbicide tolerant (HT) crops:
1. Toxic effects of herbicides on ecosystems.
2. Increased weed tolerance to herbicide
3. Biodiversity loss
4. Effects on soil-plant systems
Greenpeace European Unit
Greenpeace European Unit
Greenpeace European Unit
Glyphosate resistant weeds
Greenpeace European Unit
Slide 79
3. Expensive
Greenpeace European Unit
Syngenta
BASF
DuPont
Monsanto
Bayer
Dow
Source: ETC Group
4. Corporate control
GM Crops market
100%
Greenpeace European Unit
Syngenta
BASF
DuPont
Monsanto
Other
Bayer
Dow
Syngenta
BASF
DuPont
Monsanto
Bayer
Dow
Global Agrochemical Market
Source: ETC Group
4. Corporate control
GM Crops market
100%
74%
Greenpeace European Unit
Owners of the Seed Market
Source: ETC Group
Greenpeace European Unit
Agro-ecology• UN Report Human Rights Council [United Nations ,Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, 2011]
- Agroforestry
- Water harvesting
- Integration of livestock into farming systems
- Integrated nutrient management
• J. Pretty analysis 286 sustainable agriculture projects (57 poor countries)
- Average crop increase 79 %
- Supply critical environmental services
• UNCTAD UNEP analysis [UNEP-UNCTAD, 2008] UK Foresight Report (40 projects, 20 African countries)
- Average crop increase in Africa 116% and
- Average crop increase in East Africa 128%
Can double food production in 10 years
5. Hinder sustainable solutions
Greenpeace European Unit
6. Consumers rejection
Greenpeace European Unit
How many verifiable signatures?1030308
How long did it take to collect the signatures? 7 months
Citizens in how many countries have signed the initiative? All 27 members states
Is our initiative an ECI? European Court of Justice Case law – When EU treaty provides unconditional and sufficiently precise rights, they are directly applicable. (Article 11 TFEU is unconditional and sufficiently precise)
Facts and Figures
Greenpeace European Unit
Our ECI exceeds many ECI procedures and conditions
• Collected over 1 million signatures
• All the signatures are verifiable
• From all 27 MSs
• Met the quota in 12 countries (7 required)
• Collected signatures in 7 months (1 year limit)
• Request within the remit of the Commission
EU Ombudsman, Nikiforos Diamandouros, said: “It would be a political disaster to have a very large number of signatures and then obtain a decision by the Commission saying that it’s not admissible.”
Greenpeace European Unit
How to get rid of fakes, repeats etc?
The data base collecting the signatures:1.automatically rejects double signatures 2.only allows one signature per e-mail address.
All signatures have been screened and incomplete or invalid were removed
