14/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - MEPs wrote on 11 April to the Commissioner responsible for research, Janez Potoènik, to express their discontentment at the “shocking” announcement that Professor Thomas Hartung, who has headed the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) since 2002, is to be dismissed. “We urge you to reconsider your decision to sack Mr Hartung”, the signatories of the letter say. Given the significant reduction in the funds allocated to the OCVAM, the MEPs also express “serious doubts” as to the Commission's support for replacing animal testing. The letter addressed to the Commissioner is signed jointly by Jens Holm (EUL/NGL, Sweden), British MEPs Caroline Lucas (Green/ALE), Neil Parish (EPP-ED), John Bowis (EPP-ED), and by Paulo Casaca (PES, Portugal) and Kartika Liotard (EUL/NGL, Netherlands). (B.C.)