To prepare an own-initiative report on the future of the biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector in the European Union, the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) held talks with the European Commission on Thursday 6 March.
These reflections follow a series of initiatives presented in March 2024 by the Commission (see EUROPE 13375/22). Hildegard Bentele (EPP, German), who will be the parliamentary rapporteur on the subject, explained that this report should provide guidance to the Commission for its proposal for a law on biotechnology, scheduled for the beginning of 2026. “We have to secure a coherent and competitive framework which guarantees, enables and develops further the huge potential and benefits of this sector, with regard to the health of our citizens, the resilience of our food supply and replacement of fossil and chemical options by sustainable ones”, she argued.
In her view, this legislative framework should, first and foremost, address failures in the European market, as the results of much research struggle to then be commercialised in the single market. This represents a missed opportunity for Europe, given that the sector is a world leader, with average annual growth of 5%. “Rather, [we] need adaptation of current legislation, streamlining of strategies”, she said.
Carlo Ciccioli (ECR, Italian) shared his opinion and also wants to cut back on standards and regulations. “Europe is stifling creativity by taking away all freedom to act. We must do the opposite, promoting a policy of freedom in research and investment”, he argued.
He also raised the issue of the brain drain: “We need to bring back the talent and researchers who all too often go abroad and leave Europe, to countries where they find better conditions for investment and research”.
The representative of the Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) spoke about the projects currently underway: a life sciences strategy, the Biotechnology Act and a number of consultations. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)