Est. 2min 22-06-2006 (updated: 05-11-2012 ) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram According to the EU’s biotech strategy review, biotech companies lack risk capital and member states’ regulatory systems remain disparate. NGOs denounce lack of transparency in the review process. In view of the EU’s life sciences and biotech strategy mid-term policy review, the industry, EU institutions, and member states came together around a biotech policy round table on June 20 2006 to discuss the progress made, the changes needed and new policies required to guide Europe towards bio-economy. Bio-based economy stands for a vision of a society, which is not dependent on fossil fuels for energy and industrial raw materials, but uses bio-fuels made directly from plant/crop-based renewable sources. In the event, the Commission presented the preliminary results of a study, currently being drafted by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), on the consequences, opportunities and challenges of modern biotechnology for Europe. The joint industry, Austrian and Finnish Presidencies’ press release on the event states that the implementation of the EU life sciences and biotechnology strategy, adopted in 2002, is advancing, but that EU biotech companies still have difficulties in raising risk capital to finance R&D, the development of the regulatory system varies across the member states and communicating biotech issues to citizens has proven difficult. Friends of the Earth condemned the meeting held “behind closed doors and from which environmental NGOs were barred entry”. The organisation has also criticised the upcoming report saying it “lacks independence and transparency”. Read more with Euractiv Eurobarometer: EU citizens gaining trust in biotech, except GM food Compared to earlier surveys on EU citizens' opinion on biotech and life sciences, the 2005 survey shows that Europeans are more informed with regard to biotech but consider GM food as "a risk to society". Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters Positions"The biotech industry is looking to the Finnish Presidency – a country that has a reputation for innovation and environmental sustainability - to really make progress on building the new bio-based economy," said the Secretary General of EuropaBio, Johan Vanhemelrijck. Friends of the Earth, who say they were refused entry to the event, condemn the "meeting on Europe's future biotechnology strategy, that is taking place today behind closed doors and from which environmental NGOs have been barred entry". "Meeting in secret to discuss issues of high public importance is an absolute disgrace and a bad sign of what is to come under the Finnish Presidency of the EU. Once again, big industry has a permanent seat in biotech strategy discussions whereas environmental groups are barred," said Helen Holder from Friends of the Earth Europe. "More attention should be paid to promoting interest in and demand for biotech processes and products amongst different users and consumers in tandem with technology development," said Paula Nybergh from the Finnish Ministry of Trade and Industry. "We encounter a severe lack of finance at some stages along the life cycle of the [biotech] enterprises. Viable solutions for enhancing the attractiveness of firms for investors are to be sought as well as forms of good governance in leveraging private money through the use of public money, said Michael Losch from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Economics and Labour. BackgroundFollowing a request of the European Parliament, the Commission is currently carrying out an assessment of modern biotechnology. The aim is to evaluate the consequences, opportunities and challenges of modern biotechnology for Europe in terms of economic, social and environmental aspects. The study, conducted by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) is set to provide input to the reflection on the role of the life sciences and biotechnology in the renewed Lisbon Agenda. Timeline The Commission will present the mid-term policy review of EU's Life Sciences and Biotech Strategy in September 2006. The results of the latest Eurobarometer survey on EU citizens' views on biotechnology issues, such as stem cell research and genetically modified food, were published on 19 June 2006. Further ReadingGovernments Finnish Minstry of Trade and Industry press release:Austria and Finland boost Competitiveness of EU Biotech in 2006 EU Presidencies meeting(20 June 2006) Business & Industry EuropaBio press release:Austria and Finland boost Competitiveness of EU Biotech in 2006 EU Presidencies meeting(20 June 2006) EuropaBio press release:Industry looks to Finnish Presidency to take the lead on important biotech issues(19 June 2006) The European bio-based economy website (a joint industry and science initiative) NGOs and Think-Tanks Friends of the Earth press release:Friends of the Earth exposes EU for secret biotech industry bias - Incoming Finnish Presidency and European Commission organise closed doors, pro-industry biotech meeting(20 June 2006) Non-assigned links Joint Research Centre:The Biotechnology for Europe Study - Consequences, opportunities and challenges of modern biotechnology for Europe [Background] Commission:"Life sciences and biotechnology A strategy for Europe"(2002) Commission:Strategy on life sciences and biotechnology - Progress Reports (2003-2005) Commission:Life Sciences & Biotechnology [FR] Eurobarometer:Europeans and Biotechnology in 2005: Patterns and Trends(May 2006)
