MEPs back calls for ban on human cloning and stem cell research
The European Parliament's Committee for the Environment and Public Health has backed calls from fellow MEPs for a comprehensive ban on human cloning and stem cell research. The Committee met on 25 March to adopt a report by German MEP Dr Peter Liese concerning a Commission proposal for a directive on human cells and tissues. Although the directive does not address human cloning or stem cell research issues, the group of MEPs took the opportunity to voice their support for a complete ban on such practices. A number of high profile politicians, including French President Jacques Chirac and EU Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin, have already called for a global ban on human cloning, but consensus on the issue of human stem cell research is less apparent. When the issue threatened to jeopardise the timely implementation of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), the Commission tabled a compromise stating that no decision would be taken on EU funding for stem cell research until December 2003. Before that time, the Commission intends to publish a report on embryonic stem cell research, which will form the basis for discussion at an inter-institutional seminar on bioethics. Following the seminar, the Commission will submit a proposal to establish further guidelines for deciding whether or not to fund such research at Community level.