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The European Commission apparently wants to revise its proposal for the further authorisation of glyphosate. This was reported by the Dutch media network Euractiv, which specialises in EU reporting. According to the report, the EU Commission is working on a new approach to obtain a qualified majority of EU member states. To do so, 15 out of 27 member states must vote in favour of the proposal, representing at least 65 percent of the EU population. "The Commission will make a new proposal, so we are waiting for that," Euractiv quoted an unnamed insider as saying.
The EU Commission submitted a draft regulation to member states on 20 September that would re-authorise glyphosate for the European market after 15 December 2023, when the current authorisation expires. A heated discussion has flared up about this. The representatives of France, Slovenia and several other countries have already indicated that they could only support the Commission's proposal with amendments. The French, for example, are calling for a ban on glyphosate in situations where it can be replaced by an effective alternative. Slovenia supports the initiative but expressed concerns about biodiversity, saying.
"Our role is to facilitate the possibility of arriving at a text that is agreed by the largest possible majority of member states," the Commission said in response to a question from Euractiv. It said it was focusing on "how to move things forward." According to insiders, the Commission has "some leeway" to amend a proposal if member states have a "fundamental problem" with key aspects of a proposal. It is also possible to change the proposal completely if it is rejected by EU states, he said. As things stand, the draft is due to be voted on 13 October.
(uka / Source: Euractiv)