Over 250 people from across Europe attended a conference in Brussels to hear regional Ministers and MEP's call for a bigger say in whether GM crops are grown commercially in their region. The number of European regions and provinces now declaring themselves "GM Free zones", or publicly wishing to restrict GM crops, has climbed to 162. Over 4500 local governments and smaller areas in Europe are similarly calling for restrictions to commercial growing. Participants endorsed ten principles on future GMO planting</p><p><a href="http://www.foeeurope.org/press/2005/joint_17_May_gmo_free_zones.htm">FOE/AER: Press Release</a></p><p><a href="http://www.foeeurope.org/press/2005/10_principles_EN.pdf">Ten principles</a>