Copy of the submission to the ombudsman and the decision of European Commission to refuse access to the 2nd submission can be found at:
www.foeeurope.org/biteback/Ombudsman/index.htm
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GMO trade war: Europe accused of secrecy
Official Complaint made to Ombudsman
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH EUROPE
Wednesday 16 February 2005
Contact : Adrian Bebb, Friends of the Earth Europe + 49 1609 490 1163 (mobil

Brussels, 16 February 2005 The European Commission is accused of hiding key facts and documents from the public about genetically modified foods and crops (GM or GMOs) in an official complaint filed with the European Ombudsman by Friends of the Earth. The complaint was made after the Commission refused to release key documents in the GM trade dispute at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Friends of the Earth, Europe's largest grassroots environmental organisation, asked to see documents from Europe's submission to the GM trade dispute in August last year. But the Commission refuses to make them public, saying the WTO dispute "has to be assimilated to court proceedings" and that publishing these documents would undermine their case in the WTO.

Adrian Bebb, GM food campaigner for Friends of the Earth said: "The public has every right to know what the Commission is saying about the safety of genetically modified foods. The World Trade Organisation is not a court and should not be treated as one. It is a political organisation that trumps free trade over environmental and social concerns. It is time the Commission stopped hiding behind its lawyers and faced the public."

The complaint argues that the WTO dispute mechanism is not a court, as it is not presided over by judges. The GM trade dispute will be decided behind closed doors by political figures and all its members currently 148 countries can object to the findings. The US Government publishes all of its submissions on the internet.

The trade dispute, brought against Europe's precautionary position on GM foods by a US-led coalition in May 2003, is about to enter a key stage. Scientists report back their conclusions this week and the disputing parties will meet (in secret) for the second and last time at the WTO headquarters in Geneva (21/22 February). The Panel of trade experts are expected to publish a report this summer which is likely to result in an appeal phase and a final ruling expected in early 2006.

In May 2004 campaigners delivered a petition to the WTO signed by more than 100,000 citizens from 90 countries and more than 544 organisations representing 48 million people. The signatories, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and French small farmers' leader Jose Bove, have called on the WTO not to undermine the sovereign right of any country to protect its citizens and the environment from GM foods and crops.

Notes:
Copy of the submission to the ombudsman and the decision of European Commission to refuse access to the 2nd submission can be found at:
www.foeeurope.org/biteback/Ombudsman/index.htm