When it comes to issues such as genetic engineering, it is important to take into account external sources in the understanding of attitude formation. It is evident that there might be differences in media coverage, policy decisions and other culturally based sources of information when comparing the South with the North of Europe. The objective of this background is to give a short summary of the situation concerning genetic engineering in each cluster of countries in the South and the North of Europe. © 2003 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.