Foreign Ministry spokesperson Konstantinos Koutras made the following statement today regarding articles and comments in the Greek news media concerning the Greek stance on the issue of genetically modified maize 1507:
“On the initiative of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos, on behalf of the Hellenic Presidency, the matter of the granting of a permit for the cultivation of genetically modified maize 1507 was raised in the discussion at the Council of the European Union – in the General Affairs configuration – for two critical reasons: First, to point up the political importance of the issue, and, second, so that the Council might oppose the European Commission initiative within the deadline set. It is well known that, in accordance with European Law, the Council can block such an initiative through a supermajority (member states and votes).
The Hellenic Presidency also proposed that the relevant debate be carried out publicly, and that was the case: the debate was broadcast. Consequently, anyone could watch it and see for themselves how the Presidency handled it and what the clear Greek stance was, not just against approval, but in favor of the need for the Commission to withdraw the proposal on its own initiative, irrespective of legal arguments.
In fact, at the end of the meeting, the Hellenic Presidency – in order to facilitate the potential for the Commission to reassess the issue collectively at the College of Commissioners, with the aim of its being withdrawn – concluded that the member states had expressed a political intention as to their vote (19 opposed approval) and a vote was not carried out on the issue.
All of this was stated in the press conference that followed with Mr. Venizelos, Vice President of the Commission Maroš Šefčovič, and Commissioner Tonio Borg, where it was also announced that the Hellenic Presidency will also raise the issue at the Environment Council.
After all of this, Greece, as the presiding country, obviously did not cosign the text of the group of member states who are calling on the Commission to withdraw its proposal, so as to maintain the potential for the relevant mediating contacts between the Council and the Commission. This Presidency position is in accordance community practice and is fully understood and respected by the member states that took the same stance as Greece at the Council meeting.
February 14, 2014