EU sets guide to embryo stem cell research

EU: The European Commission has proposed guidelines that would allow EU funds to be used for stem cell research on human embryos from the end of this year.

Under the guidelines the EU will not fund embryonic stem cell research in countries such as Ireland where this type of research is banned. However, critics of the proposal last night said that EU funds should not be used for practices that are illegal in some member-states.

An Irish Government spokeswoman said last night the Government will consider the Commission's proposals before responding to them.

Germany, Austria, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Ireland insisted last year that the EU's latest research funding package must be accompanied by strict rules on embryonic stem cell research.

The EU says it would only fund research on embryos created by in vitro fertilisation which were voluntarily donated by the couple or woman who produced them.

All embryos must have been produced before June 27th, 2002 and must have been destined to be destroyed if not used for research. There would be no funding for the creation of embryos specifically for research and donors could not receive payment.

The Independent MEP Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon condemned the Commission's proposal as destructive and called on the Government to reject it.

"This flies in the face of democracy and reduces Ireland's Constitution to nothing other than a reference book. The Government, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Ireland's EU Commissioner, Mr David Byrne, have serious questions to answer on why Ireland's constitutional position was not publicly defended or upheld."

The Conference of Catholic Bishops in Europe also condemned the proposals, arguing that member-states should not be obliged to contribute funds to research of which their citizens disapproved.

A Pro Life Campaign spokesman said the proposed research would allow "the deliberate destruction of human life at its earliest stage of development". This was "despite the fact that non-controversial adult stem cell research shows more promise of curing disease".

The Commissioner for Research, Mr Philippe Busquin, said the guidelines would ensure that Europe could benefit from medical advances gained through embryonic stem cell research on an ethical basis.

"By funding this research and by setting strict ethical rules for such funding, the EU contributes in a responsible way to advancing this science for the benefit of patients across the world, while at the same time ensuring that it takes place within a clear ethical framework," he said.

Stem cells are basic cells that multiply and differentiate into specialised cells, tissue and organs. Many scientists believe that stem cell research offers the prospect of developing new methods to repair or replace tissues or cells damaged by injuries or diseases and to treat serious chronic diseases.