Strasbourg, 29/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - Adopting a report by Czech European United Left MEP Miroslav Ransdorf by an overwhelming majority (497 to 55 with 10 abstentions), the European Parliament gave full backing on 28 September to the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology (the science of the infinitely small). To the dismay of the Greens, all of whose amendments were rejected, the EP welcomed the European Commission's proposed action plan to promote research into nanoscience in the 2005-2009 period. At the same time, it stressed that public investment in research and development needs to be increased. The MEPs drew particular attention to nanomedicine as a promising cross-disciplinary approach using avant-garde technology like molecular imaging and diagnosis, which could have a spectacular impact on the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. The EP expressed regret at the slow progress in patenting nanotech and nanoscience inventions in Europe and called for the EU to set up a special nanoscience and nanotech patent control system, managed by the European Patent Office. The MEPs note that all nanoscience and nanotech applications must ensure high protection of human health, consumers, workers and the environment, as laid down in EU legislation, and stressed the need to codify nanomaterials, leading to the establishment of standards which in turn will help with the detection of potential risks. The EP urged the Commission to take measures to this effect.
A series of amendments tabled by Spanish Green David Hammerstein Mintz and German Green Hiltrud Breyer stressing the potential dangers of nanotech in terms of human health and the environment and calling for only projects for which at least half of available resources are destined for risk detection to be eligible for EU co-funding under the EU's framework programme for R&D. All their amendments were rejected.