Political Discussion and Events
Key Documents
The first European GMO-free regions conference in January 2005 adopted a 
Berlin Manifesto "Our Land, our Future, our Europe".
At their meeting in Florence in February 2005 the network of GMO-free regional governments signed a Charter of the regions and local authorities of on the subject of coexistence of genetically modified crops with traditional and organic farming.
The 
Declaration of Rennes was endorsed by the members of the GM-free Network expressing their ambitions and demands for the future. Nov. 2005. Rough translations available in Française and Deutsch
At a 
conference of Friends of the Earth and the Assembly of European Regions in Brussels in May 2006 10 principles were agreed called "Safeguarding sustainable European agriculture: Coexistence, GMO-free zones and the promotion of quality food produce in Europe"
Upcoming events
3rd International Conference on Coexistence between genetically modified (GM) and non-GM based Agricultural Supply Chaines, Sevilla, 20-21 November 2007
Organised by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre 20th and 21st November 2007 in Seville (Spain) - deadline for submission of papers and presentations: 15th May homepage
Conference and Business meeting "Non-GM Feedstuff, Quality Productions and EUropean Regional Agriculture Strategy", Committee of the Regions in Brussels, 5th and 6th December 2007
Organised by the Committee of the Regions and the GM Free Regions Network and its 42 member regions
The preliminary programme is available in English French German
Official positions and documents
Second report from the Commission on the experience of Member States with GMOs placed on the market under Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms. {SEC(2007) 274} March 6 2007
Staff working document accompanying the report
Opinion on the EU Commissions communication on the implementation of national measures on the coexistence of genetically modified crops with conventional and organic farming (Official Journal c 57, 2007/C 57/03, page 11 available in all languages)
adopted by the EU Committee of the Regions December 6th 2006 and prepared by Pietro Marrazzo, President of the Region of Lazio (Italy).
Communication of the Commission on the implementation of national measures on the coexistence of genetically modified crops with conventional and organic farming
Published by the European Commission 09/03/2006
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) - Resolution 1419
Adopted 24 Jan 2005 by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
in English or French
Useful background reading
The EU's Biotechnology Strategy: mid-term review or mid-life crisis?
An analysis by Friends of the Earth
Past Events
"Freedom of Choice"-Conference, Vienna 4-6 April 2006
An EU sponsored event to discuss co-existence of GM- and GM free agriculture in Europe.
GMO-free Balkan - food safety, biodiversity, sustainable agriculture Balkan Conference, Thessaloniki 25. – 27.11.2005
Confernce overview Declaration of Balkan Conference "GMO-free Balkan"
Bologna Conference on 'Co-existence', contamination and GM-free zones: Jeopardising consumer choice?
organised by Consumers International and Regione Emilia-Romagna, Sep. 2005 Conference documents on 'co-existence' and GMO contamination
Safeguarding sustainable European agriculture:
Coexistence, GMO-free zones and the promotion of quality food produce in Europe
Proceedings of a Conference organised by members of the European Parliament, the AER, Friends of the Earth and the Regions of Tuscany and Upper Austria, 17 May 2005
Biotechnology For Europe Study, stakeholder presentation, Brussels, 20. April 2007
The European Commission has organised a Symposium on 20 April 2007 in Brussels to present main findings of the study and discuss them in the context of a revised EU Strategy on Life Sciences and Biotechnology. Participation was by invitation only. "Bio4EU" website
Drafts of Study
5th Conference of the GMO-Free Regional Governments of Europe, Torino 17-18 May 2007
The 40 GMO-Free Regional Governments of Europe will meet in Torino, Italy, to discuss their further strategy and sign a joint statement with the "Commission on the Future of Food". GMO-Free-Regions-Network
3rd European Seed Seminar "Liberating diversity", Halle, Germany 19-20 May 2007
A European seminar particularly addressed to farmers, breeders, small scale seed companies, conservation associations and seed initiatives who are involved in saving GMO-free seed diversity, use and conservation of biodiversity and defending peasant rights of seeds. The preliminary programme is available in English French German
EU Council of Ministers discuss EU Biotechnology Strategy May 21 / 22
The Council of EU Ministers on Competitiveness (Internal Market, Industry and Research) will discuss and eventually adopt an opinion on the Commissions mid term review of the EU biotech-strategy.
Living knowledge conference, Paris, 30. Aug - 1 Sept 2007 Communities building Knowledge - Innovation through citizens science and university engagement - deadline for proposals of presentations and workshops: 30. Aprilhomepage
