EU gears up for tough debate on stem cell and nuclear research
LUCIA KUBOSOVA
21.07.2006 @ 10:13 CET
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – The Finnish EU presidency is hoping to reach a deal on a €54.5bn research funding package next week, but a ministerial meeting on Monday is likely to see a tough debate before two controversial issues - the funding of nuclear and stem cell projects - can be resolved.
With EU competitiveness ministers due to meet on Monday (24 July), member states remain divided on whether to greenlight the 2007-2013 financial package, so that EU funding for big long-term projects can continue next year without any disruption.
Scientists are worried the ideological divisions could cause a disruption in next year's EU research funding (Photo: Notat)
"We can't avoid some new technologies if we want to keep track with the latest developments in science and research," commented a Finnish diplomat, adding "We need to find a rational way to move forward."
Both of the controversial research issues are relatively minor in terms of the total EU cash put aside for them but they are viewed as political and ideological bombshells.
Eight countries - Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania Luxembourg and Malta - are blocking the idea that the EU should pay for projects using embryonic stem cells for genetic research.
They insist the common EU budget should not be used for activities banned in some member states, despite the argument that such research could be crucial in finding cures for chronic diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
On top of this, Austria alone is refusing to give the go-ahead for EU cash to be used for research on the generation of nuclear power - rather than just for nuclear safety and waste management issues, as was the case in the past.
Its opposition may lead to some last-minute amendments in the compromise proposal currently on the table, according to presidency sources - as the 2007-2013 nuclear research funds, which are separate from the general research package, needs unanimous agreement to be passed.
Both Finns and diplomats from other countries are openly questioning the chances of a deal.
"Normally I have a pretty good idea where the meeting will lead to, but I really don't have any idea this time," one EU diplomat noted.
Weak blocking minority
Still, last-minute talks before the council meeting showed some movement in the member states' positions.
The bloc opposing stem cell research is currently relatively weak as it only holds 91 votes, just one more vote than is needed to have a so-called blocking minority.
That means only one country changing its mind would undermine the camp, with Slovakia and Slovenia being mentioned as the two countries most likely to bale out.
But Germany has stepped up its resistance. Its research minister Annette Schavan sent a letter on Thursday (20 July) to the presidency condemning the idea of EU cash being used for stem cell research.
"The European Union science programme should not be used to give financial incentives to kill embryos," she wrote, according to Reuters, adding that "The current proposal from the European Commission and the European Parliament does not rule this out."
Some observers suggested Berlin may lobby Italy - which has opposed stem cell research in the past - and get enough support to prevent a deal.
Same debate in the past
The clash between member states echoes the deep divisions in the European Parliament with MEPs passing the provision on EU stem cell research with just a narrow majority.
The EU had a similar hot dispute on genetic-related research before it adopted its science funding package for 2000-2006.
The discussion at that time produced the current system of a case-by-case approach to stem cell-based projects which needs to pass several stages of national and EU ethical committees screening.
Also, this type of research cannot be carried out in member states where it is banned by national legislation.
But opponents of the package insist this is not enough.
"Why should we use the common budget for this type of research if we have such crucial ideological differences in our views? If the UK wants to go further in this area why not but it should pay for it on its own and not with EU money," one diplomat commented.
