GREENPEACE: EU COMMISSIONER FRANZ FISCHLER, "DIRTY MAN OF SEATTLE"

2 December 1999

Seattle - European Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler is poised to win the "Dirty Man of Seattle" tag said Greenpeace in Seattle.

"We came to Seattle to support Europe's promise, that they would prevent GMOs from being put on the agenda of the WTO," said GP spokesman Remi Parmentier, "and we are shocked to hear that Commissioner Fischler has sold out to the US and Canada without even checking this shift in position properly with European Ministers.

Greenpeace said that high level officials from EU member states in Seattle were expressing their irritation in the corridors of the WTO convention centre. Franz Fischler reportedly stepped out of his agreed mandate and made a deal with the US before checking with the European member states on behalf of whom he is supposed to negotiate. He agreed with the US and Canada that a WTO biotech working group be created to work on

"relevant input from WTO but also from other multilateral for a, including Biosafety negotiations."

In plain language, this means that the WTO would be formally invited to interfere with negotiations under the auspices of UNEP to adopt a Biosafety Protocol that would recognise the right of any country to say no to GMOs on environmental grounds. Such interference will greatly slow the process of finalising the Biosafety Protocol and could well result in its derailment.

Until now, together with developing countries, Europe had been a strong advocate of such a Biosafety Protocol, despite repeated veiled threats from Canada, the US and other GM crop exporters to bring Europe before a WTO dispute settlement panel if such a protocol was adopted. Adoption of the Biosafety Protocol is scheduled to take place at the end of January 2000.

"If Fischler's position prevails Greenpeace fears that the WTO will obstruct the Biosafety Protocol, which is see as the only safe international agreement to protect the public from the adverse effects of GMOs," said Parmentier.

"Fischler is inviting the fox into the chicken coop. He will have a lot of explaining to the millions of citizens across Europe and the rest of the world who demand the right to choose not to swallow GM food."

Similarly, on 1 December the Environment Ministers from Denmark, UK, France, Belgium and Italy expressed in Seattle in a joint written statement that the Biosafety Process "would be undermined by the establishment of a WTO working group."

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
- Remi Parmentier Greenpeace International: +1.202.251 6295
- Cindy Baxter, Press Officer: +1.202.258 3027

Please visit our WTO and Genetic Engineering campaign websites for further information.