Brussels, 05/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - German Christian Democrat Peter Liese is to defend, in plenary, a report in favour of allowing Community funding of human stem cell research using human supernumerary embryos. The European Parliament's Industry Committee voted 28 votes in favour, 22 against with 2 abstentions for a set of strict ethical guidelines for deciding on and for monitoring EU funding of research of this kind, which is currently under a moratorium. The majority of MEPs in the committee also relaxed the provision envisaged by the Commission by doing away with the reference to the date of 27 June 2002. According to the Commission, there should be an indication that only human supernumerary embryos produced before this date (corresponding to adoption of the 6th framework programme) may be used for research, in order to avoid any specific production of surnumerary embryos. The MEPs who rejected most of the rapporteur's amendments insist, however, that priority must always be given to the funding of research using adult stem cells whenever possible. The European Commission is to publish an annual report on all the research projects benefiting from Community funding which use embryonic stem cells. For each project, the report should point out why the use of such cells is indispensable.
The British Medical Association immediately welcomed this vote which has, however, still to be confirmed in plenary during the second session of November in Strasbourg.