Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-04-09-Speech-3-377"
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"en.20030409.7.3-377"2
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"Mr President, I would first like to draw your attention to the excellent work undertaken by our fellow Member Mr Liese. He has developed and improved upon the Commission’s proposal. I think both the approach and the scope of the Liese report are excellent. Work on this directive began during the Spanish Presidency of the European Union. It is no accident that in 2002 Spain was the international role model for donations and transplants for the tenth year running.
We therefore have a good understanding of this subject. We are also aware of all the problems involved in the transplantation of tissues, cells and organs. In recent years, very significant advances in transplant technology have been made, and the public has become more aware of the need to come forward as potential donors. In this context it is appropriate to establish specific European regulations to control such activities. The regulations are needed to guarantee all these activities can take place within the appropriate ethical, health and social framework in all Member States.
As previously explained, donation and transplant procedures rely on solidarity. They rely on people playing their part in the donation system in an altruistic and disinterested way. It is therefore very important to ensure people will still volunteer to become donors for no reward. We must encourage people to come forward and increase the number of potential donors. Above all, we must ensure families respect donors’ decisions when the time comes.
There has been much debate on whether organ transplantation should be included in this directive. While I believe we need Community regulations on organ transplantation, I think it would be wrong to include the issue in this particular directive. The directive would have to be substantially modified and this could undermine good organ transplant practice. I therefore believe Amendment No 6 provides a sensible solution to the problem. It rightly calls on the Commission to present a proposal on the matter in 2003.
On the other hand, I think the Commission’s initial proposal, which would exclude cells to be used in the preparation of medicinal products from the directive is improved by Amendment No 21 which does include such cells.
The most controversial aspect of this directive is perhaps the use of tissues and cells from cloned human embryos, because of the important ethical and moral implications. In my opinion Amendment No 30 establishes a number of basic conditions on respect for human dignity. I think these should apply in all Member States, although some of the latter may wish to take either a stricter or more liberal line on the basis of these common fundamental conditions.
Lastly, as a Member of this House, I would like to convey my full support to those anonymous European citizens who, by donating tissues, cells or organs, offer patients hope and a new lease of life. They are indeed helping to achieve miracles."@en1
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