Greenpeace has already collected 1.2 million signatures to stop GMOs being grown in the EU. However, the devil is the detail, there are further criteria to satisfy and it's causing a stir.

Citizens' initiatives put to the test

A signature could influence  European decision-makers.

Via the Citizens’ Initiative, Europeans  could have their say on EU laws.

Whilst the rules remain somewhat cloudy,

Greenpeace has already launched  a petition against GMOs

1 million citizens  signed this petition

to call on the European Commission  to stop authorizing GM crops

until there is a significant reform  of the safety testing. 

Collecting a million signatures  isn’t enough:

the petition must represent a minimum  number of EU countries: 5, 7 or 9

to make it easier for citizens to gather  support for the initiative. 

Also the focus of debates:  authenticity of signatures.

Should a social security number  be required?

I think it is sufficient: name address  and sometimes the date of birth,

We do not want to oblige people to have  their passport with them,

and give their passport number,  it's about data protection.

Greenpeace didn’t wait for the  EP and the Council

to launch their GM campaign,  which could lead to legal complications.

Citizen’s initiative is a right enshrined  into the Lisbon Treaty.

MEPs will look into the matter at  the next plenary session in December.