WRITTEN QUESTION E-1494/03 by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission. Expressions of interest in the Sixth Framework Programme of Research for embryo research and stem cell research.
Date: 2003-05-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, EU programme, embryo and foetus, research body, research project, stem cell

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/127

(2004/C 33 E/126)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1494/03

by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission

(2 May 2003)

Subject: Expressions of interest in the Sixth Framework Programme of Research for embryo research and

stem cell research

On 20 March 2002 the Commission published an invitation to submit expressions of interest in the Sixth
Framework Programme of Research (FP6). Until 7 June 2002, scientific institutes and businesses could
submit plans to the Commission for assessment as to their suitability for support from the Framework
Programme. On 4 October 2002 the Commission published the results.

From the published results it emerges that in 1997 expressions of interest were submitted for the thematic
priority ‘Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology’. This priority includes financial support for stem cell
research.

The regulation of human embryonic stem cell research is subject to subsidiarity in Europe, and different
practices exist in the Member States in this regard. In some Member States, for example, it is permitted to
produce human embryos for research purposes, whereas in other Member States this is explicitly
prohibited.

Under the compromise reached between the Council and the European Parliament in September 2002
concerning the five specific programmes within the FP, it was agreed that until the end of 2003 the
Commission should not finance any research programmes which included embryonic stem cell research.

How many expressions of interest have been submitted to the Commission under the thematic

1.
priority ‘Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology’ which involve embryonic stem cell research?

In which Member States are the scientific institutes and/or businesses based which submitted these

2.
expressions of interest?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(13 June 2003)

The Priority 1 Life ‘Sciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for Health’ received 2000 Expressions of
Interest (EoI). About 80 expressions of interest involving research on stem cell (animal or human stem
cells) were submitted.

The various sources of stem cells were explored (embryonic, foetal, umbilical cord blood, adult). The
specific sources of stem cells were not indicated in all EoI’s nor was the country in which the specific
research was going to be carried out. The Commission is therefore not in a position to provide more
detailed information regarding the number of EoI’s, which involve the use of human embryonic stem cells
and the countries where this research is planned to take place.

A first call for proposals for Priority 1 was published on 17 December 2002 and closed on 25 March
2003. At this stage of the analysis of the response to the call for proposals the Thematic Priority 1 has
received 26 proposals addressing research on stem cells and three proposals foresee to use banked or
isolated human embryonic stem cell in culture. This research involves laboratories in Belgium, Finland,
Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic and Israel.

(2004/C 33 E/127)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1518/03

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission

(6 May 2003)

Subject: Delays in the construction of the Figueres to Perpignan section of the high-speed rail link

According to various reports in the Spanish media, the Franco-Spanish intergovernmental commission for
the construction of the high-speed rail link between Figueres and Perpignan has broken off negotiations