greenpeace european unit marco contiero greenpeace european unit [email protected] the...
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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.”
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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
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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
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Greenpeace European Unit
Greenpeace European Unit
Glyphosate resistant weeds
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Slide 79
3. Expensive
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Syngenta
BASF
DuPont
Monsanto
Bayer
Dow
Source: ETC Group
4. Corporate control
GM Crops market
100%
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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%
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Owners of the Seed Market
Source: ETC Group
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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
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6. Consumers rejection
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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
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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.”
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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