Updates
No debate during the last Environment Council on June 25th
We will be happy to post any news from your side regarding the positions of your governments on the approval of the new GM maize varieties and our demand to stop such approvals. Meanwhile please keep mobilising for our “Stop the Crop” action and put directly it on your website or place a link to 
http://www.gmo-free-regions.org/stop-the-crop-action.html
No Council vote on March 23
The Commission has not officially submitted the proposals to lift the national bans in France and Greece to the Council of Ministers, nor the proposals to approve Bt11 and 1507. No vote is therefore taken in the Council of Agricultural Ministers 23/24th of March. The next Agriculture Council meeting will be held 23/24th of April. It is unclear if the Commission will submit the proposals in due time for that meeting. We have at least four more weeks to go.
March 3rd: First vote in Council of Ministers won!
With a bold and qualified majority of 282 votes 22 of 27 member states have rejected the EU Commissions proposal to force the waiving of the bans in Austria and Hungary of Monsanto's Mon810.
Only Great Britain, Netherlands, Finland, Sweden and Estonia supported the Commissions proposal in the Council of Ministers on Monday 2nd in Brussels.
This is a perfect start for our campaign, which will continue to also secure the bans in France and Greece (eventually to be voted end of March) and to reject the approval of two new GM varieties for cultivation.
Against the the Commission and in favour of Hungary and Austria:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (282, 22 countries)
In favour of the Commission proposal and against Hungary and Austria: Estonia, Finland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Sweden (63, 5 countries). 
More details
Excellent kick-start!
More than 17.000 people have signed the letter to ministers on the first day the action is online! Keep on moving!
Have fun with your own calculations (excel voting meter)
News
21 June, Reuters: EU to examine national opt-outs for GM crop growing
May, Inf'OGM: UE – Levée du moratoire français : le prochain avis de l’AESA décisif ?
24-25 April, the 250 participants of the 5th GMO-Free Region Conference "Food and Democracy" call for a European Moratorium
The participants of the 5th European Conference of GMO-Free Regions “Food and Democracy” call for an EU-wide moratorium on the authorization and the commercial planting of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In the wake of six EU member states banning the planting of MON810 and in light of the rapid increase in GMO-free regions in Europe, there has never been a better moment for a moratorium than now. Read More...
13 March, Reuters: EU member states slow to separate GM crops
13 March, Budapest Time: GM maize ban victory for Hungary
12 March, The Economist: European governments are turning against the European Commission, with mischief in mind
On Barroso's chances for a 2nd turn as Commission president: Senior French officials admit to some irritation with Mr Barroso, who stands accused of stubbornly pursuing unpopular causes in the name of free trade—trying to force Europeans to grow genetically modified corn from America, for example.
10 March, USDA-GAIN Report GM9012: German Biotech Industry and Researchers Kick Back
10 March, Daily Post: How we can get Wales heard in Europe
9 March, New Europe: Dimas warns of “Green Gap” between EU member States
The EU Member States also supported Austria’s and Hungary’s plans to continue their national bans on the cultivation of genetically modified maize. “The Council confirmed that it is up to the Member States to decide whether to allow GM crops cultivation on their territory or not. I think it now for the Commission to come up with a proposal on how to change the rules to avoid a situation where a Member State which wants to be GM-free has to come to the Council again and again and defend its position,” Bursík said.
3 March The Parliament: EU commission urged to drop 'GM agenda'
3 March 2009, euractiv: Ministers back right to refuse GM crop cultivation (en, de, fr with links and background)
2 March 2009, Reuters: EU upholds Austria, Hungary right to ban GM crops
2 March 2009, CNN: EU Nations Refuse To Force Members To Farm GM Corn
26 February 2009, European Voice: Pressure mounts on national GM bans
26 February 2009, Farmers Guardian: GM maize products creep nearer approval
25 February 2009, International Herald Tribune: EU deadlocks on gene-altered corn
20 February 2009, Reuters: Another German minister calls for GMO maize ban
20 February 2009, Reuters: EU prepares for battle over growing GM maize crops
19 February 2009, MTI Hungary: President lobbies for Hungary's right to uphold GMO ban
18 February 2009 Nature News: European disarray on transgenic crops
18 February 2009, Bloomberg: Germany May Ban Monsanto Corn, Minister Tells Berliner Zeitung
18 February 2009, Bloomberg : Monsanto Asks That Science Guide Decision on German GM Crops
17 February 2009, International Herald Tribune: New effort to win EU acceptance for genetically modified crops
17 February 2009, Euractiv: EU fails to lift French, Greek GM crop bans
25 February 2009, European Voice: EU rejects plans for new GM crops
5 February 2009, Syngenta, Full Year Results 2008: Record Sales and Earnings Growth, Winning Technology Offer
26 January 2009, euro-news: GMOs may grow by diktat (with video)
22 January 2009, Wall Street Journal: Syngenta Optimistic On EU GM Corn Vote In February
21 January 2009, Reuters: EU executive presses forward on GM crop cultivation
The proposals, authored by the European Commission's environment unit, would grant a standard 10-year license for the two maize varieties -- and also be the EU's first authorizations for genetically modified crop cultivation since 1998.
12 December 2008, Reuters: EU gets ready to test GMO crop growing
4. December 2008, European Council of Environment ministers: 
Council conclusions on GMOs
General recommendations including a critique of the present approval process, the call for the inclusion of socio-economic considerations in the approval process and an affirmation of gmo free zones
12 December 2007, Nature: Showdown for Europe
& Editorial: Directive action required
"Dimas has misused science to tip the balance of his analysis of risks and benefits with which he justified his decision. [...] The directive needs to be revised to ensure that the checks and balances put in place to reassure opponents, while not crushing innovation, cannot be abused by the political motives of one side."
5. Dec 2007, BioWorld International: European Biotech Industry Goes on GMO Offensive
30. Nov 2007, Le Monde: Du maïs transgénique BT 11, interdit à la culture, a été découvert dans un champ en Bretagne
Illegal planting of BT 11 has been discovered in Britanny, France.
29. Nov 2007, Cordis: European biotech industry criticises Dimas' position on new GM maize types
28. Nov 2007, AP: Greenpeace appeals to EU to reject use of 2 new biotech corn products
26. Nov 2007, Reuters: France and Germany seek to break GMO deadlock
25. Nov 2007, The Independent: Safety fears prompt Europe to consider first ban on GM crop
Sunday Herald, Holyrood bid to ban GM crops in Europe
The Scottish government will this week make an unprecedented intervention in Brussels to try to help ban genetically modified (GM) crops throughout Europe.
23. Nov 2007, New York Times, Proposed Ban on Genetically Modified Corn in Europe
21. Nov 2007, International Herald Tribune: EU officials propose ban on genetically modified corn seeds
25. Oct 2007, FOE / Greenpeace: Dimas calls for GM maize ban in Europe
