Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-09-06-Speech-3-201"
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"en.20000906.8.3-201"2
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".
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, recent progress in the field of life sciences provide considerable prospects for their application, but also raise ethical questions which are of great concern to the general public. It is becoming increasingly important to anticipate these ethical questions so that they can then be integrated into a broader dialogue between science and society.
In more general terms, the high level group of experts on life sciences, recently established at my behest, must help us to construct a genuine dialogue on the life sciences between the world of research and society at large. The symposium, which is being held by this group on 6 and 7 November in Brussels and to which, of course, I invite all Members of this Parliament who may be interested, represents an important stage in establishing this dialogue. Therefore, although the Commission has no plans to legislate or harmonise in the field of ethics, it does wish to contribute to the debate, fully respecting the diversity of Europe’s cultures and sensibilities. This is also one of the objectives of the European research area, which is gradually being developed.
In its statement of January 2000, the Commission highlighted the fact that a genuine European research area can only become a reality if we also promote a European area of ethical values, which are shared throughout Europe. With this in mind, the Commission plans to adopt initiatives such as strengthening the links between ethics committees across Europe and the exchange of good practice in the ethical assessment of research projects.
Therapeutic cloning, or to be more precise, the use for therapeutic purposes of embryo stem cells obtained by cloning techniques is one example of the ethical questions raised by the rapid scientific advances that have been made in the life sciences. This technique for therapeutic cloning is a particularly sensitive issue, for obvious cultural, religious and ethical reasons.
The report by a group of British experts, published on 16 August, recognises the considerable importance of research into human embryo stem cells and their therapeutic application. This report recommends authorising research in this area, and particularly the use of embryos produced by cloning, using the technique of nucleus replacement, whilst recommending a clear legal and ethical framework. The publication of this report has led to many people across Europe expressing their views and has enabled a genuine debate to be held at European level, beyond the scientific circles concerned. As President Prodi announced recently in a press statement, the Commission, far from remaining silent, hopes that an enlightened debate will ensue, in close cooperation with the European Parliament.
Respect for the national identity of Member States led the Treaty on European Union to give Member States the prerogative to legislate on ethical issues. Legislation and gaps in legislation vary greatly, which reflects the range of very different sensibilities in the countries of the European Union. Community action in the field of biotechnological research is nevertheless increasingly based on the most rigorous fundamental ethical principles, out of respect for national sensibilities. This applies to Community legislation on the patentability of biotechnological inventions, which is expressly based on respect for the fundamental principles that guarantee human dignity and integrity. This legislation also affirms the principle that the human body, at all stages of its formation or its development, including germ cells, as well as the simple discovery of one of its elements or of one of its products, including the partial sequencing of a human gene, cannot be patented.
This legislation does not allow for the patenting of reproductive human cloning and the sale of embryos or parts of the human body. Whilst the directive regulates the conditions in which an invention based on biological matter may benefit from the protection of a patent, its aim is not, however, to set the conditions in which the research itself may be carried out.
With regard to research, the European Commission has, for many years, given its support to the field of biomedicine. The fifth framework-programme, which was adopted using the codecision procedure, respects fundamental ethical principles and is based on the opinion issued by the European Ethics Group prior to the adoption of the framework-programme. Research involving cloning techniques for reproductive or therapeutic ends is therefore quite explicitly excluded. Animal cloning is also limited to ethically justifiable purposes, to ensure that operations are carried out without causing unnecessary suffering
The framework-programme, which also has a proactive role, is currently supporting the studies in bioethics looking at the potential risks and benefits of cloning technology. Furthermore, complementary approaches to therapeutic cloning attempting to develop new techniques for cell therapy are underway, particularly through major projects using adult stem cells. This research is being carried out with respect for fundamental ethical principles and for the relevant national regulations.
I should like to emphasise that the ethical aspects are, as a matter of course, taken into account when proposals are assessed and that a thorough ethical review is undertaken for proposals involving more sensitive ethical issues. The Commission looks forward to hearing the opinion of the European Group on Ethics this November on the use of adult stem cells. This group has shown its independence and its considerable competence in issues that are both highly sensitive and also extremely technical. Like previous ones, this opinion will, of course, be extremely important for the framing of Community research policy."@en1
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