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2006-12-15 | permalink
Austria likely to escape EU order to lift GMO bans
Austria may escape another order to lift its two bans on genetically modified (GMO) maize varieties as EU ministers prepare to deliver a second rebuff to the European Commission, officials said on Thursday. [...] To force Austria to lift its bans, the Commission will need to secure a weighted majority of EU ministers in favour of its draft orders. There can also be a weighted majority against, when the Commission would withdraw the orders and reconsider. While the positions of nearly all the 25 countries are already known, three states are wavering -- Germany, Portugal and Spain. Under the EU's complex weighted voting system, Germany and Spain carry a lot of influence. But they are still not expected to vote in favour, so the vote's outcome is almost certain to amount to a rejection of the Commission order.
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2006-12-15 | permalink
Austria likely to escape EU order to lift GMO bans
Austria may escape another order to lift its two bans on genetically modified (GMO) maize varieties as EU ministers prepare to deliver a second rebuff to the European Commission, officials said on Thursday. [...] To force Austria to lift its bans, the Commission will need to secure a weighted majority of EU ministers in favour of its draft orders. There can also be a weighted majority against, when the Commission would withdraw the orders and reconsider. While the positions of nearly all the 25 countries are already known, three states are wavering -- Germany, Portugal and Spain. Under the EU's complex weighted voting system, Germany and Spain carry a lot of influence. But they are still not expected to vote in favour, so the vote's outcome is almost certain to amount to a rejection of the Commission order.
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