Embryo cloning ban gets backing from Parliament

Date: 17/04/03

By Karen Carstens

MEMBERS of the European Parliament have stirred controversy by supporting a ban on creating human embryos for stem cell research, including through cloning, amid a lack of moral consensus on the issue in Europe. The chamber has however yet to agree on a definition of 'embryo'.

In a controversial 10 April vote, MEPs tacked several amendments that restrict the use of stem cells on to a proposal originally designed to regulate the use of human tissues and cells. The amendments have mostly been tabled by Christian Democrat or Conservative deputies.

Opponents, including most UK MEPs, warned they would hold back medical progress. Britain has the most lenient stance on stem cells and cloning in the EU.

The 15 member states are divided on the issue and have varying regulations ranging from an effective ban in Italy to no specific rules in Belgium.

"Regrettably, the religious right managed to pass a series of amendments which, if they ever become law, would have serious consequences for stem cell research in Europe," said David Bowe, a UK Labour deputy. "They are very Catholic and very regressive."

Stem cells are coveted by medical researchers because they can easily divide and grow into other types of cells, making them a source for tissue and organ growth in human beings.

Research is designed to repair damaged tissues and find cures for diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, spinal cord injuries and other ailments.

While stem cells can be taken from adults, research on those taken from human embryos has proven to be the most promising. One way of obtaining them is by 'therapeutic cloning' - creating embryos which can be mined for their stem cells.

There were 234 votes in favour and 217 votes against therapeutic cloning.

Bowe said the outcome was not as bad as he had feared it would be before the vote. "We managed to stem the tide against stem cells," he said.

One amendment, put forward by Austrian Christian Democrat Marialiese Flemming, would have banned the creation of new embryonic stem cell 'lines', meaning research would be conducted using only existing lines made up of cells whose initial embryos had already been destroyed. This is currently the practice in the United States, where only existing lines are allowed to be used for federally funded research.

However, the amendment was dropped after MEPs became deadlocked in a 'drawn vote' of 232 to 232.

Flemming made her case on ethical grounds. "From the moment of the conception, you create all the individual characteristics of the person to my mind you cannot kill that," she said.

Bowe said Parliament had no right to rule on ethical grounds. "There's no moral consensus in Europe and the role of the European Parliament is not to establish one," he said.

Yet German MEP Peter Liese, rapporteur of the report the deputies were voting on, had at least "tried to strike a balance", Bowe added.

Liese said he was "very content" with the vote's outcome. "We made it clear that we support research and therapy with cells and tissues but that ethical borders are indispensable." The report was adopted by 321 in favour to 89 votes against, with 75 abstentions.

Ethical questions were not addressed by the European Commission in its proposed cells and tissues directive, and are considered the legal domain of member states under the subsidiarity principle.

EU health ministers are set to adopt a so-called common position on the issue when they next convene in early June. A second reading is then expected to follow in the Parliament.

Bowe said the outcome of the vote was not entirely clear because MEPs had failed to agree on a definition of 'embryo' and because the wording of certain amendments remained open to interpretation. But some two-thirds of all the amendments adopted were a positive contribution to the Commission's original proposal, he added. They address issues such as consent procedures in obtaining and donating tissues and cells.

At the same time, the Commission on 7 April published a working paper on embryonic stem cell research as a lead-in to a seminar to be held on 24 April.

Both the report and the seminar are not concerned with establishing EU legislation on ethical questions, Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin cautioned. Instead, the aim is to assess how to best promote cutting-edge research while respecting national rules and values.

But Bowe said he feared the seminar, which will feature research ministers, MEPs and experts in science and ethics, will devolve into another ethical debate.

MEPs voted to ban the use of human embryos in stem cell research at the first reading of the proposal on 10 April 2003.