Mr President, on behalf of the Group I welcome this proposal and many of the amendments tabled by colleagues, and those tabled by the rapporteur who has already worked very hard to find a sensible way forward on this. The proposal is indeed needed to set EU-wide minimum standards on the use of human tissues and cells. There is a growing and cross-border trade in human tissues and cells across Europe for research in laboratories and clinics and for the production of medical and pharmaceutical products. We now need to bring forward a European-wide framework in which to control this. It is currently controlled only by a patchwork of national laws. But with this increasing trade we need basic standards to guarantee human health, and safety standards on the issues of donation, procurement, compensation and consent. We need to establish a clear European-wide framework in which the industry can operate and in which people can be confident and public safety ensured. We can guard against profit-driven markets that might exploit the vulnerable individual and the possible transmission of disease or infection. We need to operate on a not-for-profit principle and apply that to all donations in all Member States across the whole of the European Union. There is a danger that some people, driven by financial necessity, might perhaps be persuaded to donate cells, either here within the European Union or perhaps in the developing world, for financial gain. We must find a way to stop that. We must get the balance right. We want to rule out the sale of human tissues for cash, but leave the door open for limited financial compensation for the donor. It is quite clear to me that if you need two weeks off work for a bone marrow transplant it is not unreasonable for some form of payment to be made to your employer. These new rules will set the necessary minimum safety criteria for the use of tissues and cells across Europe. Minimum standards on donation and compensation based on a not-for-profit system are essential. We should also have clear rules on the issue of stem cell research, including embryonic stem cells but excluding cloning for human reproduction. If we can establish these minimum standards of donor consent, we will protect the vulnerable individuals who could be persuaded into donating cells under pressure. However, I cannot entirely support all the amendments tabled by some of my colleagues. Those amendments seeking, for example, to ban or restrict the use of embryonic stem cells totally are doing the European public no favours. They are not protecting human health, nor are they protecting the vulnerable. I wish that MEPs and pressure groups that argue the need so strongly to defend ethical principles were equally vocal in their defence of the sick and the vulnerable, like my young constituent Zain Hashmi, who this week was able with his parents to get permission to utilise these new technologies to protect his life and safeguard his future. Without these kinds of new technologies, the future for young men like that is extremely bleak. I sincerely hope that we can take this proposal forward with sensible steps, bearing in mind the key issues of protecting human health and safety and protecting the public and vulnerable individuals from exploitation. I commend the report to the House, but not all of the amendments.

Political group: PSE