9. Research and development
| (24752)
11535/03
COM(03) 390
| Draft Council Decision amending Decision 2002/834/EC on the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration: "Integrating and strengthening the European research area" (2002-2006).
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| Legal base | Article 166(4) EC; consultation; QMV
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| Document originated | 9 July 2003
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| Deposited in Parliament | 21 July 2003
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| Department | Trade and Industry
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| Basis of consideration | EM of 8 September 2003
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| Previous Committee Report | None; but see (23205) 5943/02: HC 152-xxiv (2001-02), paragraph 10 (17 April 2002)
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| To be discussed in Council | 22-23 September 2003
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Not cleared; further information requested
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Background
9.1 In April 2002 we cleared two amended draft Council Decisions
for specific programmes implementing the Sixth Framework Programme
for research and development for the Community and EURATOM.[19]
Community funding for embryonic stem cell research is foreseen
under the programme, but the Council and the Commission have agreed
that detailed guidance concerning such research should be drawn
up by 31 December 2003.
The document
9.2 This draft Council Decision would set out the specific conditions
under which the Framework Programme could fund research activities
involving the procurement of stem cells from supernumerary in
vitro fertilisation human embryos.
9.3 The proposal would require that:
- participants must obtain ethical
advice at local or national level;
- human embryos used for the procurement of stem
cells must have been created before 27 June 2002 (the date of
adoption of the Sixth Framework Programme) as a result of medically-assisted
in vitro fertilisation designed to induce pregnancy, and
no longer to be needed for that purpose;
- the project must serve particular research aims;
- all alternative methods must be proved to be
insufficient;
- the donor should provide free, written consent
and there should be no monetary compensation;
- personal data must be protected;
- participants must follow quality and safety standards;
- compliance with conditions must be verified by
a scientific evaluation and ethical review of each project.
The Government's view
9.4 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for
Science and Innovation, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord
Sainsbury) tells us:
"The Government
welcomes the Commission's
intention to encourage the derivation of human embryonic stem
cells and the proposal to fund such activities under the European
Community's Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological
Development.
"The Government is disappointed that the Commission
has chosen to impose a number of conditions of an ethical nature
on this funding. These are against the spirit of the 12th
paragraph of Anne I, Part 1.1 of the original decision, which
states that 'In compliance with the principle of subsidiarity
and the diversity of approaches existing in Europe, participants
in research projects must conform to current legislation and ethical
rules in the countries where the research will be carried out.'
The Government will continue to resist these conditions during
future negotiation on the proposal.
"As the proposal only concerns Community funding,
there are no policy implications for UK regulation of projects
involving human embryonic stem cells and no impact on research
programmes funded in the UK."
Conclusion
9.5 We note that this proposal raises an important
issue of subsidiarity and welcome the Government's intention to
resist this aspect of the draft Decision during negotiations.
We look forward to the Minister being able to report progress
to us on the issue. Meanwhile we do not clear the document.
19 See headnote. Back
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