The EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, David Byrne, has strongly criticised the proposal on the location of the European Food Authority that has been drafted by Finland and Italy.

   

According to this proposal, the European Food Authority, which will deal with food safety issues, would be established in Helsinki.

   

Speaking to news agency Reuters on Tuesday, Byrne commented that he does not want a situation where risk assessments would be made in a city that is located several hours away by plane from Brussels.

   

Byrne feels the agreement reached between Finland and Italy is inappropriate, as the leaders of all fifteen EU member states must decide on the issue.

From Finland's point of view,

14 member states agreed on Helsinki during the Laeken summit last year, and only Italy's opposition torpedoed the plans. As Italy has now agreed to a compromise, Finland believes that the next EU summit will approve of the proposal.

   

EU Commission spokesman Reijo Kemppinen told Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday night that the Commission feels the Finnish-Italian model is acceptable. Kemppinen observed that member states can decide among themselves on location issues, and if a new, separate food culture agency is to be established in Italy's Parma, the Commission is prepared to further the necessary legislation.

   

A representative of Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen commented on Tuesday evening that the opposition from Byrne was expected.