Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-06-13-Speech-2-051"
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"en.20060613.6.2-051"2
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"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Europe needs to achieve a faster rate of growth and, to that end, it has set its sights on knowledge, which means research, training, information, development of ICT, and so forth.
Perhaps the most ambitious objective that we have set ourselves is the seventh framework programme, which today represents the European added value that is essential if we are to achieve that result. I shall confine myself to addressing two aspects of it.
In this impressive programme we have endeavoured to ensure broad access, which is not the opposite of selectivity but is, rather, a precondition for it. We want all components of the research world to be in a position to take part, and I am referring not least to women scientists.
What I have just said also applies to the production components, starting with small and medium-sized enterprises, which have a vital need for innovation but require particular attention. I refer to the procedures issue: in that respect let us call on the Commission to ensure that the efforts to simplify, to facilitate and to support SMEs are not lost during the implementation phase, but rather increased.
The second aspect concerns research, which has clear and unavoidable ethical facets. It would take crass cynicism or a purely scientistic outlook for anyone to ignore these aspects. It is therefore quite right to acknowledge them and, if possible, to find solutions that take account of these facets, which relate to human beings and their dignity.
There is one important issue in particular on which we are split within the various groups. Within my own group as well, there is a position on embryonic stem cells, albeit a minority one like the one that I represent. None of us wants to stop science, but many of us believe that respect for life should be a guideline anyway, although it is not intended as a restriction, and that, where there is scientific doubt, it is appropriate to adopt the precautionary principle.
The Community resources allocated for that purpose, which are already very limited, could be more usefully concentrated in those sectors where research has already been developed and which therefore now promise benefits for human health in the near future, such as the use of adult stem cells and other alternatives, leaving all other fields of research development to individual Member States. These are cross-cutting positions that also require an ability to listen to and to respect others.
When subjects that affect people and human life so intimately are addressed in these Chambers, which are more used to debates on the economy or other more tangible subjects, I believe we need a little more wisdom and perhaps a little more listening and dialogue."@en1
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