In praise of GMOs
Gill Lacroix, of Friends of the Earth, and Lorenzo Consoli, of Greenpeace, in their letters (European Voice, 14-20 February) raise interesting questions about the scope of the Commission's proposal for a directive on environmental liability, in particular concerning the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Given the huge reductions in pesticide use possible with transgenic cotton – and the benefits to soil microbial diversity resulting from the low till/no till practices possible with GM crops – who will be held responsible for the environmental damage resulting from the non-use of GM crops, in situations where they offer major environmental benefits over current unsustainable and dangerous practices?
Who will be held responsible for the damaging consequences of regulations which prevent farmers from using cleaner and safer technologies and products?
Mr Consoli makes the interesting assertion that no insurance company would insure GM crops. Last year US farmers planted 36 million hectares of these crops, in the most litigious society in the world, without being sued for damages.
If they are not insured, I imagine it must be because six years' experience has shown them that these crops not only perform well, but have environmental advantages.
And the Monarch butterflies, in spite of Greenpeace myths, are among the happy beneficiaries of the reduction in chemical sprays.
Mark Cantley
Voice of Cyprus
Recently I attended an internal meeting specifically designed for people working in the Commission. The purpose was to brief us on developments in Cyprus.
Mr Jean-François Drevet, who was introduced as an expert on Cyprus [he has written at least one book on the subject], made an introduction which did not touch upon any of the questions which are hotly debated in EU circles.
One question referred to the Commission's avis on Cyprus – dating back, I believe, to 1993 – which, it was argued, had some serious shortcomings.
Another person queried why Drevet dated everything from 1974 instead of 1963 – which the questioner suggested was when the real breakdown occurred.
Drevet became very angry, red-faced even, and claimed that the arguments put forward were the result of "stupid" articles published in European Voice and that the persons asking the questions had been influenced by the newspaper.
Many of those present knew more about the subject than myself, but I felt his response was disappointing and indicative of the sad state of the EU's position on Cyprus.
Far from being "stupid", I would suggest European Voice is doing a very good job with its coverage of Cyprus.
We need a free press!
B. Kurth
Editor's note: The office of Mr Drevet in DG Regional Policy was invited to respond to this complaint but declined to return our calls.
Benes Decrees
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's attack on the decrees issued by Czechoslovak President Edvard Benes during his exile in London from 1941 to 1945 is unbelievable.
The Benes Decrees, which were adopted by the Czechoslovakian parliament after the war, were designed to remedy damage caused by the Munich and Vienna Treaties of 1938 [under the Benes laws, Sudeten Germans and ethnic Hungarians in the former Czechoslovakia were stripped of property rights]. The decrees are very important pillars for political stabilisation in central Europe and the Hungarian prime minister's remarks [suggesting the laws are incompatible with EU membership] are very dangerous for enlargement.
One of the biggest supporters of the Sudeten Germans is Jörg Haider, who announced his return to European politics with his visit to Iraq to meet Saddam Hussein. Bavarian leader Edmund Stoiber, a candidate for German chancellor, also seems sympathetic towards the claims of the Sudeten Germans.
These right-wing politicians forget how the Czech people suffered under German occupation during World War II and how Slovakia's territory was occupied by Hungary, on the basis of the Munich and Vienna Treaties.
Slovakia's Social Democrats warn peace-loving European nations to beware of the Stoiber-Haider-Orbán axis unless they want to spark tensions in central Europe and maybe even start a new Cold War.
Rastislav Blasko
Social Democratic Party of Slovakia
Strasbourg sittings must go
I read with interest and encouragement your article about Strasbourg Parliament sessions (European Voice, 21-27 February). I totally agree with Michiel van Hulten and those MEPs who support him that the continuance of the sittings in Strasbourg should be considered by the Convention on the future of Europe.
He makes the obvious point that all the facilities are in place here in Brussels and that the committee system is primarily Brussels-based, as is the Commission and its subsidiary organisations.
Setting to one side the extra cost of Strasbourg and the unnecessary expense to European taxpayers, of even more relevance is the fact that this rotating system will not help the European Union politicians to reduce the apathy of voters throughout all member states and improve the level of turnout at the next election in 2004.
Even if I was a committed European politician in favour of the United Kingdom's membership of the Union, which I am not, I would still campaign to have the Strasbourg sittings made redundant after the election of 2004.
Strasbourg is a charming, provincial university city that does not have the size and structure to cope with the influx of so many extra people for one week only, 12 times each year.
There is a shortage of sensibly priced hotels and air travel is much more difficult and costly than that available to reach Brussels which, furthermore, enjoys the excellent Eurostar service.
If the European Union wishes to enhance its reputation for accountability, it should be willing to listen to the majority of the MEPs who wish to close down Strasbourg.
Last year, a majority of MEPs voted in favour of just such a motion.
In the meantime, perhaps it will help their cause if more of my colleagues adopted my position and either reduced or terminated their attendance in Strasbourg.
Matters will become much worse when ten or more new member states join after the enlargement process is completed, unless the authorities have the courage to take a decision to close the Strasbourg Parliament in the interest of effective European democracy.
Michael Holmes
Independent MEP
Men's work vs women's labour
With sadness in my heart I read about the birth of the son of Mark Gray (Entre Nous, 21-27 February). Daddy attended a conference just before his wife's labour and turned up only for the delivery of his son. This was reported by your newspaper as an heroic act!
I would like to draw the attention of all future fathers to the fact that, nowadays, it is possible to have an interesting job and a nice career without forsaking parental duties. At the end of their lives, people rarely say they wish they had spent more time at the office.
Mignon Houben
Editor's note: Mr Gray assures us he was there for the birth in plenty of time!
Cyprus	Hungary	Iraq	Slovakia	United Kingdom