MEPs vote to lift moratorium on stem cell funding

Date: 20/11/03

MEPS yesterday (19 November) voted in favour of EU money being used to fund research on embryonic stem cells.

The issue had split the European Parliament and campaigners, but the vote means the moratorium on EU funding for research will be lifted, subject to strict conditions.

Member states take different positions on the issue - while the UK and Belgium permit research, Germany and Spain almost entirely forbid it.

MEPs behind the motion, however, said it is vital for medical science that the EU provides funds. They were supported by charities such as the Alzheimer's Society and the Parkinson's Disease Society.

Other members described such research as morally wrong and said it should not be supported by the Union's money.

UK Socialist member David Bowe, who had been leading the campaign for funding under strictly controlled conditions, said: "Charities such as Parkinson's strongly believe that stem cell research offers them hope of new therapies it is done with the aim of bringing hope to sufferers from some very serious diseases."

But German Christian Democrat Peter Liese, rapporteur of a report on human cells and tissues, said he was "generally disappointed". He said: "I had wished to see another result. The Parliament wasted its chance to give research a clear ethical framework."