Brussels, 14/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - No result was expected in the domain of research from the Competitiveness Council on Monday 13 March in Brussels, where Ministers used the occasion to reiterate already known positions (EUROPE 9149) on aspects linked to committee procedures and management of the next Research and Development Framework Programme (RDFP). As for the ethical structures for human embryo stem cell research, however, the positions of Member States, were given an airing. Four countries: Germany, Italy, Poland and Slovakia, which could constitute a minority block, confirmed an attitude that was more or less categorical in refusing any destruction of embryos. They consider that research funded by framework programmes can only be carried out on stem cells that are already isolated or cellular lines that had already been grown in an effort to prevent the framework programme encouraging new lines based on the destruction of embryos. To this end Italy suggested the 31 December 2005. Luxembourg and Malta gave their support to the position of the four countries but also insist that they would like to see a compromise. The United Kingdom, Sweden and Belgium indicated that they would like to go further but could not agree to the Commission' proposal which consisted in a case-by-case examination of research projects in a regulatory programme committee, which would mean that projects that were opposed could only be approved by the Council itself as a final authorising body. This formula corresponds to the practice followed under the 6th RDFP.
As part of the discussion on the specific “Ideas” programme, which focuses on the new European Research Council, in charge of identifying research projects fundamental to the exploration of the frontiers of knowledge, several ministers expressed a wish for the annual report due to be elaborated by the executive agency at the behest of the Commission also be addressed to the Independent Scientific Council and that this be at the heart of this new structure. Commissioner Janez Potocnik promised ministers that the Commission's revised proposal be immediately sent to them after the conclusion of the inter-institutional agreement on financial perspectives and on which the framework programme depends for funding. He pointed out that the Commission did not want to question the structure of the programme.
Plenary session of the European Parliament