In a major blow to the European Commissions efforts to overcome the deadlock on GMO planting in Europe, the Council of EU environment ministers has rejected with qualified (2/3rd) majority a proposal to lift 8 national bans on previously EU approved GMOs. The ministers also rejected the approval of Monsanto`s GM maize Mon863, but missed the qualified majority on this decision.</p><p><a href="http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2005-06-24T134447Z_01_N24176694_RTRIDST_0_SCIENCE-FOOD-EU-GMO-DC.XML">Reuters: EU ministers uphold sovereign right to ban GMOs</a></p><p><a href="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L24193532.htm">Reuters: EU ministers rebuff plans to overturn GMO bans</a></p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/793&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">EU Commission</a></p><p><a href="http://eu.greenpeace.org/downloads/gmo/PREnvCouncil050624.pdf">Greenpeace: Commission defeated in string of GMO votes</a></p><p><a href="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L24232121.htm">Reuters: Chronology of EU moves on gene crops and foods</a></p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/downloads/FOE_PR_EU_bans_240605.pdf">Friends of the Earth: EU ministers vote to keep GM foods ban</a></p><p><a href="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L24694224.htm">Reuters: EU`s legal labyrinth of GMO legislation</a></p><p><a href="http://www.syngenta.com/en/news/050624_bt176.aspx">Syngenta: Statement on EU Member States decision not to lift GM bans</a>