EU Competitiveness Council Washes Its Hands Of Embryonic Stem Cell Research Debate

[Murray Charters <mcharters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

EU Competitiveness Council Washes Its Hands Of Embryonic Stem Cell Research 
Debate
[Date: 2003-12-04]

A special meeting of the Competitiveness Council on 3 December failed to 
deliver a political agreement on EU funding
for human embryonic stem cell research.

It is now highly unlikely that EU ministers will reach a decision before the 
specified 31 December deadline. If this is
the case, the Commission has declared its intention to begin inviting proposals 
for such research, which will be
evaluated on a case by case basis.

Italian Research Minister and acting president of the Competitiveness Council, 
Letizia Moratti, said: 'It is now up to
the European Commission to decide on research using stem cells from human 
embryos, either alone or in conjunction with
the next EU [Presidency].'

However, the chances of a deal being struck under the Irish Presidency, which 
begins on 1 January 2004, already look
slim. Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister, Mary Harney was reported as describing 
the Council's failure to reach a
compromise as the 'worst case scenario', and said that she could not see the 
issue of stem cell research guidelines
being resolved during the Irish Presidency.

The Commission, however, still hopes that the issue can be resolved under the 
next Presidency. A spokesperson for
Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin told CORDIS News: 'It is now up to the 
Council and the Presidency to show some
leadership and come up with an acceptable proposal.'

The spokesperson added that the failure to reach a compromise was through no 
fault of the Commission's. 'The Commission
made a last minute proposal to try and save the day, but the Council was not 
prepared to discuss and vote on the plans.
We are very disappointed with the final outcome.'

He explained that the Commission proposal sought to avoid the ethical 
objections of some Member States by not allowing
EU funds to be used for the relatively simple procedure of procuring stem cells 
from human embryos. Instead, EU money
would be used to develop and characterise new stem cell lines from already 
isolated stem cells, ensuring that no
embryos are destroyed within the framework of EU projects.

The likely outcome now is that the Commission will evaluate proposals for 
various types of research using embryonic
stem cells. Accepted projects will then be reviewed on a case by case basis by 
regulatory committees, on which Member
States are represented.

Mr Busquin's spokesperson does not believe that the involvement of Member 
States on these committees will ensure that
such research projects are blocked. 'These committees adopt a reverse approach, 
whereby a qualified majority is needed
in order to reject the project. In the case of less controversial research 
using embryonic stem cells, it is likely
that some projects will be approved.'

To read the provisional Council conclusions, please visit:

2550th Council Meeting - COMPETITIVENESS (Internal market, Industry and 
Research) - Brussels, 3.12.2003
Press Release:  Brussels (3/12/2003) - Press:355 Nr: 15531/03




SOURCE: CORDIS RTD-NEWS


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