Malta is among a small group of member states, which agreed to a European Commission proposal giving individual countries the power to decide whether to cultivate genetically modified crops on their territory.

Following a meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers in Brussels earlier this week, it became evident Health Commissioner John Dalli’s proposal was facing stiff resistance from the majority of member states, including those with the biggest political clout.

Intervening during the debate, Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino welcomed the proposal to shift the onus of the decision to cultivate GM crops from a ­community- to a national-based regime.

Asked whether this meant a shift in Malta’s position on GMOs, a government spokesman said this was not the case because Malta was only agreeing with the decision-making process that should be adopted. “We are not saying we agree with GMOs but only with the method being suggested by the Commission on how decisions should be taken.”

So far, Malta always opposed the cultivation of GM crops in Europe. However, according to the spokesman, “Malta now thinks every decision in this sector should be science-based.”

The ministers’ meeting was the first to discuss the issue following the publication of the proposal by Mr Dalli last July. The EU heavyweights, including Germany, France, the UK and Spain, shot down the proposal and said in very clear terms they would not be supporting it in its present form.

Commission sources said that following the negative reaction from the majority of member states it was likely Mr Dalli’s proposal would not see the light of day. “It will take several months if we are going to find a compromise on this text,” Sabine Laurelle, the Belgian Agriculture Minister presiding over the talks, admitted in a press conference following the closed-doors meeting.

Asked whether he would consider withdrawing his proposal, Mr Dalli said he would wait to hear what environment ministers had to say in two weeks’ time, hoping for a better reception of his proposal.

Defending his proposal, Mr Dalli said it “does not undermine the internal market and it is not against WTO rules. It is the present situation which creates problems with the WTO”.

According to Commission sour­ces, if the environment min­isters’ discussion on the subject has the same conclusion as that of the Agriculture Council there would be no other alternative for Mr Dalli but to withdraw his proposal.

The cultivation of GMOs is proving to be one of the most contentious dossiers in Mr Dalli’s portfolio. His proposal followed on harsh criticism he received after approving the cultivation of a new GM potato for industrial purposes just three weeks after his appointment. He was immediately accused by the pro-environmental lobby of pushing ahead the interests of big business. Mr Dalli denied the charge.

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