WRITTEN QUESTION E-3359/02 by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Research on supernumerary embryos.
Date: 2002-11-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, biotechnology, cytology, embryo and foetus, research programme

3.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 155 E/143

sixth framework programme would be laid down by 31 December 2003 and the Commission stated
that, until then, it would not propose to finance such research projects unless they involved banked or
isolated human embryonic stem cells in culture.

Does the term ‘banked or isolated human embryonic stem cells in culture’ mean the same thing as
‘supernumerary embryos up to 14 days’?

Is it true that funding is currently being provided under the sixth framework programme for research on
supernumerary embryos up to 14 days in countries where such research is authorised?

Reply

(20 February 2003)

As the Honourable Member will be aware, the Commission is responsible for the implementation of the
technological
Council Decision of 30 September 2002 adopting a specific programme for research,
development and demonstration:
(2002-
2006) (1) relevant to the issue in question. In this context, the Council, at its meeting on 30 September
2002, noted the intention of the Commission to submit to the programme Committee, established under
this specific programme, procedural modalities concerning research involving the use of human embryos
and human embryonic stem cells, in accordance with Article 6, paragraph 3, first indent. The Honourable
Member
information as to the
implementation of the Council Decision.

is therefore advised to turn to the Commission for any further

‘Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area’

As regards funding currently provided under the on-going framework programme,
the Honourable
Member is also advised to address the Commission as the institution responsible for the implementation of
the fifth framework programme and in particular the specific programme on quality of
life and
management of living resources (1998-2002) (2).

(1) OJ L 294, 29.10.2002, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 26, 1.2.1999, p. 1 and OJ L 64, 12.3.1999, p. 1.

(2003/C 155 E/159)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3359/02

by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 November 2002)

Subject: Research on supernumerary embryos

At its 2451st meeting held in Brussels on 30 September 2002, the Competition (Internal Market, Industry
and Research) Council adopted an arrangement under which:

the Council and Commission agreed that detailed implementing arrangements for research activities
involving the use of human embryos and human embryonic stem cells that may be financed under the
sixth framework programme would be laid down by 31 December 2003 and the Commission stated
that, until then, it would not propose to finance such research projects unless they involved banked or
isolated human embryonic stem cells in culture.

Does the term ‘banked or isolated human embryonic stem cells in culture’ mean the same thing as
‘supernumerary embryos up to 14 days’?

Is it true that funding is currently being provided under the sixth framework programme for research on
supernumerary embryos up to 14 days in countries where such research is authorised?

C 155 E/144

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.7.2003

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(13 January 2003)

‘Banked or isolated human embryonic stem cells in culture’ are not the same as ‘human supernumerary
embryos’.

Supernumerary embryos are embryos created by in vitro fertilisation (IVF) for infertility treatment to
enhance the success rate of IVF, but no longer needed for this purpose. They are intended to be discarded
but instead, may be donated for research by the couples concerned.

‘Banked or isolated human embryonic stem cells in culture’ refers to human embryonic stem cells, which
have been derived from the ‘inner cell mass’ of embryos at the blastocyst stage and grown in culture (in a
(The blastocyst stage
test tube). These stem cell
corresponds to 5-7 days after the fertilisation of the egg, when the embryo resemble a hollow ball
containing a mass of stem cells.).

lines may be frozen and deposited in a cell bank.

As the first calls for proposals and funding of projects under the 6th Framework Programme (FP6) were
only launched in December 2002, no funding is yet being provided for projects under FP6.

(2003/C 155 E/160)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3366/02

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(20 November 2002)

Subject: The Union’s demands in the GATS negotiations

Why has it not been made public what the European Union is demanding of other countries in regard to
deregulation in the GATS negotiations?

Will the EU’s demands in the GATS negotiations be made public? If so, when?

Reply

(20 February 2003)

In July 2002 the EC and its Member States submitted their initial requests to other WTO members for
improved market access in the services sectors under the Doha Development Agenda.

It goes without saying that the aim of the EC and its Member States is to be as transparent as possible with
regard to the GATS negotiations. That is why the civil society and stakeholders have been widely
consulted, already before the submission of requests,
in order to obtain their input to the process.
Furthermore, a detailed summary of the requests was published by the Commission last July.

The EU has more than 140 partners in the WTO. Therefore the conduct of the GATS negotiations must
take place in a way that allows time and policy space for third countries to develop their own positions.
Furthermore, confidentiality among negotiators is necessary in order to allow each partner the sovereignty
to decide how to proceed with the requests and how to develop counter-bids.

Thus, while aiming at the widest possible transparency with all the stakeholders and public, there must be
an appropriate balance between the transparency and the EU’s ability to negotiate in an atmosphere
conducive to frank and open discussions.