The primary reasons for Europe's relative economic decline sometimes come to the fore through events. The General Court of the European Union annulled the decision to allow the planting of a genetically modified potato developed by BASF on the grounds that procedural regulation was not observed by the Commission. Even the Commission was so exasperated by its own convoluted rules that it followed common sense.
This was decided without considering that the Greens and their allies, having won a victory, cannot countenance any reversal. Hence the court case. Originally, GMOs were banned on the grounds of safety but the level of planting and entry into the food industry have demolished these arguments. Now it is about consumer protection.
This is an inflection point. Lobbies wish to maintain central control at Commission level so that there can be no backtracking on this Luddite position. Especially as GMO adoption is just the type of decision that should be undertaken at national, even regional level. For these activists, democracy is a value that should only be defended if people vote their way. If not, then their choices must be decided by wiser (Greenpeace) heads.