European Political Groups on Genetically Modified Organisms: Strong statements, weak programmes?

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) for food production are disputed in Europe. In this thesis, the stances of European Parliament Groups and their national member parties on GMO policy are examined. Do political parties form coherent opinions on this issue or are national electorates and interests the principals for Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), as national location theory of European parliamentarianism suggest? It is found that the far-left and the greens act coherently according to their ideology, whereas there is almost no congruence in the other factions. In the ALDE and ECR, national perceptions form policy stances, as national location theory predicts, while the picture is less clear for EPP and S&D.