Genetic Engineering – Influence of EU Population Growing

2007/08/20 12:15

Press Release from:

Austrian Science Fund FWF

National movements campaigning against genetic engineering are helping to democratise the EU. That was the result of a recently completed Austrian Science Fund FWF project led by an independent researcher. According to the study's results, the almost simultaneous mobilisation of national populations reinforces public protest at a European level. The project therefore provides an optimistic outlook for the growing influence of the general population on EU decision-making processes.

The controversy surrounding genetic engineering has more to offer than simply arguments for and

Genetic Engineering – Influence of EU Population Growing

The controversy over genetic engineering shows: pan-European protest is possible and helps to democratise the EU.

against the science. For example, it provides a model for the general public's influence in the age of globalisation. This topic is particularly important for the EU. Although the EU is involved in all key decision-making areas, debate with the general population does not take place on a European level, but primarily on a national level. Although the results of a project headed by Dr. Franz Seifert on the general public's role in the global conflict on genetic engineering confirm this finding, they also indicate that – under certain circumstances – politically effective, pan-European protest is possible.

Scientific Contact: Dr. Franz Seifert, Maxingstraße 22-24/2/7, 1130 Wien, Austria, T +43 / 650 / 561 42 06, E fseifert@gmx.at