European Union

We replied to citizens who took the time to write to the President (in French and English):

English Current EU legislation

A 2023 European Union (EU) law ensures that products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are clearly labelled.

Agreement on new genomic techniques

On 4 December 2025, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU reached an agreement on the European law governing products derived from new genomic techniques (NGTs).

The agreement stipulates that products derived from plants considered comparable to natural or conventional plants (known as NGT1) will be exempt from the GMO labelling requirements for consumers. However, labelling will remain mandatory for seeds, allowing farmers to make an informed choice.

Plants with more complex modifications (referred to as NGT2) will remain subject to the existing GMO legislation requirements, including mandatory labelling for all derived products.

Plants that have been modified to tolerate herbicides or produce an insecticidal substance will be classified as NGT2. No NGTs will be allowed in organic production.

The agreement allows NGTs to be patented, except for traits or sequences that already occur in nature or are produced organically. Safeguards will be put in place to prevent the market from being dominated by a few firms and keep seeds affordable and accessible to farmers.

Next steps

The law will enter into force after formal approval by the Parliament and the Council (representing the governments of EU countries).

French Législation européenne en vigueur

Une loi de l’Union européenne (UE) de 2003 assure que les produits contenant des organismes génétiquement modifiés (OGM) soient clairement étiquetés.

Accord sur les nouvelles techniques génomiques

Le 4 décembre 2025, le Parlement européen et le Conseil de l’UE sont parvenus à un accord sur la loi européenne qui régira les produits dérivés des nouvelles techniques génomiques (NTG).

L’accord prévoit que les produits dérivés des plantes considérées comparables à des plantes naturelles ou conventionnelles (dénommées NTG 1) seront exemptés de l’obligation d’étiquetage des OGM pour les consommateurs. Cependant, l’étiquetage restera obligatoire pour les semences, afin de permettre aux agriculteurs de faire un choix éclairé.

Les plantes dont les modifications sont plus complexes (dénommées NTG 2) resteront régies par les règles actuelles applicables aux OGM, ce qui implique un étiquetage obligatoire pour tous les produits dérivés.

Les plantes modifiées pour tolérer les herbicides ou produire une substance insecticide seront considérées NTG 2. Aucune NTG ne sera autorisée dans la production biologique.

L’accord autorise les brevets pour les NTG, à l’exception des caractères ou séquences présents dans la nature ou produits par des moyens biologiques. Des garanties sont prévues pour empêcher la concentration du marché et pour garantir que les semences restent abordables et accessibles aux agriculteurs.

Prochaines étapes

La loi entrera en vigueur après l’approbation formel du Parlement et du Conseil (représentant les gouvernements des pays de l’UE).

Background

Citizens often send messages to the President of the European Parliament expressing their views and/or requesting action. The Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (AskEP) within the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) replies to these messages, which may sometimes be identical as part of wider public campaigns.

Parliament strongly condemns all violence against civilians in north-east Syria and calls on all parties to abide by the ceasefire.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Parliament strongly condemns all violence against civilians in north-east Syria and calls on all parties to abide by the ceasefire.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Before the start of the informal EU leaders' retreat of 12 February 2026, European Council President António Costa addressed the press in the Alden Biesen castle, Belgium.

On Thursday, Parliament called for more funding and coordination to combat poverty and social exclusion in the EU.
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On Thursday, Parliament called for more funding and coordination to combat poverty and social exclusion in the EU.
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

MEPs want the EU to renew its political commitment, funding and coordination to support full implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

MEPs want the EU to renew its political commitment, funding and coordination to support full implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On Thursday, Parliament adopted three resolutions on the human rights situations in Iran, Türkiye and Uganda.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On Thursday, Parliament adopted three resolutions on the human rights situations in Iran, Türkiye and Uganda.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On Thursday, Parliament adopted new measures to protect European farmers from unfair trading practices by buyers of agricultural products.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On Thursday, Parliament adopted new measures to protect European farmers from unfair trading practices by buyers of agricultural products.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Setting the right course for Europe's economic recovery is the goal of today's informal EU summit at Alden Biesen Castle in Belgium. The governments in Berlin and Rome have presented a joint policy paper on the topic, but in an interview French President Emmanuel Macron voiced very different ideas. Europe's press discusses what the EU needs now.

Hungarians will elect a new parliament on 12 April. The Tisza Party led by Péter Magyar has emerged as Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party's main rival and is leading most of the pre-election polls. Commentators discuss whether Fidesz could actually be voted out after sixteen years in power, and what is at stake here.