greenpeace european unit marco contiero greenpeace european unit marco.contiero@greenpeace.org the...

Greenpeace European Unit

Marco Contiero

Greenpeace European Unitmarco.contiero@greenpeace.org

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

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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