The European Citizens Initiative Empowering the citizens rights

The European Citizens Initiative Empowering the citizens' rights European Economic and Social Committee Brussels 29 June 2011 Marco Contiero Greenpeace European Unit marco. contiero@greenpeace. org Greenpeace European Unit

“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. ”

WHEN and WHY the Initiative? • March 2010 • EC authorization BASF antibiotic-resistant GM potato • Disregard to: 1. EU legal requirements, 2. EU members states will 3. Public opinion 4. Advice of medical institutions (WHO, EMEA) Greenpeace European Unit

1. Health Risks

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

3. Expensive Greenpeace European Unit

4. Corporate control GM Crops market Bayer Monsanto Du. Pont BASF Syngenta Dow 100% Source: ETC Group Greenpeace European Unit

4. Corporate control GM Crops market Global Agrochemical Market Bayer BASF Monsanto Du. Pont Syngenta Bayer Dow 100% Syngenta Other BASF nt o P Du Monsanto 74% Dow Source: ETC Group Greenpeace European Unit

Other Mo nsa n to Owners of the Seed Market Syn ta nt Po Du gen Source: ETC Group Greenpeace European Unit

5. Hinder sustainable solutions Agro-ecology • UN Report Human Rights Council [United Nations , Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, 2011] - Agroforestry Can double food - Water harvesting production in 10 - Integration of livestock into farming systems years - 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% Greenpeace European Unit

6. Consumers rejection Greenpeace European Unit

Facts and Figures 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) 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 Greenpeace European Unit