Aaron

EP object to authorisation of GMO soya beans

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On 14 May 2020, the full Parliament voted against the Commission’s implementing acts to authorise a GMO soybean. The numbers were 477 votes for, 181 against, with 23 abstentions.   The text was first tabled on 28 January 2020. The Environment Committee debated the challenge 3 February 2020 and voted on 13 February. Objection pursuant … Read more

Scrutinising the Commission in a Crisis – Commission withdraws RPS measure

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Today I learned that the European Commission has withdrawn their proposal ‘regards maximum residue levels for cycloxydim, flonicamid, haloxyfop, mandestrobin, mepiquat, Metschnikowia fructicola strain NRRL Y-27328 and prohexadione in or on certain products.’ On 21 April April, the Environment Committee voted against the proposal. The full Parliament would not have been able to vote on … Read more

Scrutinising the Commission in a crisis – an example

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An interesting case on 21 April of the EP scrutinising secondary legislation in a time of crisis. The Environment Committee did their job of scrutinising an item of secondary legislation. They voted against it.   Because of the limited meetings and agenda of the European Parliament, they’ll run out of time to vote on the … Read more

Upstream – a book every Commissioner needs to read

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Upstream: HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY HAPPEN Dan Heath has written the book that anyone serious about bringing about change should read. I’d hope that every Commissioner, official, Politicians, NGO, and Foundation would read it. You’d think that we would focus our resources on preventing problems, rather than cleaning up the impacts. It seems that … Read more