Sven Giegold

Strong democracy: Monsanto is excluded from lobbying access to the EU Parliament

Today, the leaders of the European Parliament’s political groups have decided to withdraw the access cards to Parliament of Monsanto group’s lobbyists and other representatives from the US seed company Monsanto. The Greens/EFA Group had requested this move after Monsanto refused to participate in a hearing on the Monsanto Papers in Parliament. MEP Sven Giegold, financial and economic policy spokesperson of the Greens/EFA group and Parliament’s rapporteur for Transparency, Accountability and Integrity in the EU institutions commented:

 

“This is strong democracy. Those who escape democratic accountability must be excluded from  access to lobbying. If Monsanto does business in Europe, it must also face up to its responsibilities before the European Parliament.

It is the first time that a company has been deprived of lobbying access to the European Parliament. The Parliament is playing one of its strongest cards against Monsanto. We Greens have fought successfully for these rigorous rules, which are now being applied. Those who do not abide by democratic rules must not have privileged access to democracy.

There are still considerable doubts about the assessment of glyphosate. As long as a health risk cannot be ruled out, the approval of glyphosate may not be extended. Like France and Italy, the German government should veto the extension of the EU glyphosate approval.”

 

Monsanto’s reply to the EU Parliament, in which the company refuses to attend the hearing: https://sven-giegold.de/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Monsanto-declining-EP-invitation-29082017.pdf

Category: Uncategorized

Please share!