In its Recommendation 2003/556/EC of 23 July 2003 on guidelines for the development of national strategies and best practices to ensure the coexistence of genetically modified crops with conventional and organic farming1, the Commission expressed itself in favour of an approach that would leave it up to Member States to develop and implement management measures for coexistence. In this respect, the Commission announced its aim to facilitate the exchange of information about ongoing and planned research projects at national and Community level.

Pursuant to Article 26a of Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 March 2001 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms and repealing Council Directive 90/220/EEC2, the Commission is to gather and coordinate information based on studies at Community and national level, and to observe the developments regarding coexistence in the Member States.

For the purpose of these tasks, the Commission should establish a forum, for exchange between Member States of information on results of scientific studies as well as on best practices developed within national strategies for coexistence. It is essential that the Commission has the possibility to organise working group meetings open to national and other experts, where necessary.

It is therefore appropriate to establish a network group to assist the Commission in the field of coexistence (abbreviated as COEX-NET),