Busquin meets MEPs to discuss cloning
The European Commissioner for Research, Philippe Busquin, has called on the European Parliament to have an open debate on recent developments in cloning technology. There can only be a European Research Area (ERA) on such issues as human cloning if there is a European area of shared ethical values, he told MEPs. He accepted that cloning of human stem cells was possible if it could be of medical benefit and there must be a full debate on this issue, he said. But he argued that cloning for reproductive purposes was not acceptable when met up with MEPs in Strasbourg on 6 September for a debate on the matter. There has been a great number of reactions at the European level following the publication this summer of a British group of experts' report on therapeutic cloning. In response, Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, has recently stressed the need for a dialogue on the subject, which Mr Busquin's meeting formed part of. Many MEPs were strongly critical of the British report. Italian MEP Francesco Fiori described cloning as 'immoral and an abuse to the right to life', objecting to the research both on religious grounds and as 'an affront to civilisation'. He was joined by other speakers who called on the European Parliament to set up a special temporary committee to investigate all aspects of the issue. `Peter Liese (Germany) called for a clause banning cloning to be included in the EU charter on fundamental rights. Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (The Netherlands) however was equivocal on the subject. If the EU outlaws such research on medical grounds she said, it would only take place elsewhere, such as in the USA, with products marketed later in Europe. The British reaction was characterised by the need for further thought and clarification of the matter. John Purvis (UK) called for 'calm reflection' and reminded the house that human reproductive cloning remains banned in the UK and that stem cell research is also tightly regulated. The British report recommended extending embryonic stem cell research to therapeutic purposes, he said. British MEP Diana Wallis told the Parliament that the British report was the result of two years careful evaluation and was only proposed after careful consideration and designed to provide medical cures for serious diseases. 'Recent advances in science, particularly in the domain of life sciences offer the potential for important applications but also present ethical questions of direct concern to the majority of our citizens,' said Commissioner Busquin. He drew attention to his communication on a European Research Area in which he has already stressed the need to promote common ethical values throughout Europe. 'Respect of the national identities of the Member States has driven the treaty of the European Union, allowing the Member States the right to lay down legislation on ethical matters, which results in a large diversity of legislation or in some cases no legislation at all. The Commission intends to take the initiative to reinforce the links between the ethical committees in Europe and the exchange of good practice for ethical evaluation of research projects,' announced Mr Busquin. Current EU legislation prohibits the patenting of the human body, or any part of it, at any stage of development, including stem cells, DNA and sections of DNA. The European Commission does, however, support biotechnological research that offers protection or benefit to human health through its Fifth Framework programme, while encouraging researchers to respect fundamental ethical principles. Research on both reproductive and therapeutic cloning is not funded. 'It is true that the Commission does not wish to legislate or harmonise ethical matters in the European research area but to contribute to the debate with respect to the diversity of Europeans' cultures and sensitivities,' the Commissioner told MEPS. A group of high level experts in the life sciences will meet in Brussels on 6 and 7 November for a discussion forum, which is hoped to further inform the debate.