The Polish Presidency in the EU Council wants to reach an agreement as soon as possible on cultivation of GMOs. The next round of talks held by the Polish Presidency is to take place as early as on 15 September in Brussels.

A decision enabling Member States to decide freely on limiting or prohibiting cultivation of genetically modified organisms within their territories needs to be taken, thus, the Polish hold meetings of the so-called ad hoc group for GMOs. The works of the ad hoc group for GMOs focus on the draft Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council amending the GMO Directive (2001/18/EC) – as regards the cultivation of genetically modified organisms, the use of GMOs and the introduction of GMOs into the environment. It is main aim is to resolve the stalemate situation concerning genetically modified organisms in spite of an enormous number of various interests and opinions reported by Member States.

With regard to this situation, Andrzej Kraszewski, the Polish Minister of the Environment, stressed that the problem of genetically modified organisms is a major one, and it covers environmental, social, economic issues. He added that the Polish Presidency makes efforts so as to reach a common position within the EU Council. Therefore, the Polish Minister request for active participation of all countries in the works and reaching a compromise. In addition, last April, MEPs from the Environment Committee approved a report in which consider that to allow EU countries to ban or restrict the use of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) on environmental grounds should be a European obligation, giving them better legal protection in the event of challenges from trading partners opposed to a ban.

It will be possible to draw up a document containing a compromise text, taking into account comments from Member States, if Poland manages to be provided with opinions and gets to know the specific expectations of Member States in relation to the draft Regulation. Its adoption by the Council will be equivalent to granting a negotiation mandate to the Polish Presidency, as the Presidency's objective is the continuation of the works and attempting to obtain a negotiation mandate so as to enable commencement of talks with the European Parliament and the adoption of legislation in second reading.