WRITTEN QUESTION P-3652/03 by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Stem cells and stem-cell lines.
Date: 2003-12-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, EU research policy, Sweden, United Kingdom, bio-ethics, embryo and foetus, medical research, research expenditure (EU), stem cell

C 78 E/844

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27.3.2004

Does the Commission not see an urgent need to take action to ensure the payment of compensation, so
far refused or delayed, for this serious violation of the human rights of these elderly and vulnerable
survivors of the tragic experience of war?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3649/03 and E-3971/03
given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 2004)

The Commission is not aware of the legal and factual details regarding the implementation of the German
forced labour compensation programme by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) because it
is a matter for the German Government, which has set out the details of this programme in a German
Law. It is, therefore, for the German Government to decide the conditions for eligibility. Equally, it depends
on the procedures foreseen by this Law as to how the persons concerned may appeal regarding the delays
in payments.

In any case, Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 of the Council of 14 June 1971 (1) does not apply to schemes in
favour of war victims. The Commission would, therefore, like to refer to its reply to Written Question
E-2757/00 by Mr Alavanos (2) regarding the same compensation programme, and in particular to the fact
that the Petitions Committee of the Parliament had, therefore, decided that it would address the Petitions
Committee of the German Bundestag in order to try to improve the situation of these victims.

(1) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971; last consolidated version: Council Regulation (EC) No 118/97 of 2 December 1996 amending
and updating Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to
self-employed persons and to members of their families moving within the Community and Regulation (EEC)
No 574/72 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71, OJ L 28, 30.1.1997.

(2) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001.

(2004/C 78 E/0898)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3652/03

by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 December 2003)

Subject: Stem cells and stem-cell lines

Has the Commission funded the production of any stem cells and stem-cell lines? How many projects were
funded? In which countries? How much money was spent?

How many embryos were used to create the two stem-cell lines in the UK and the seven stem-cell lines in
Sweden?

Does this represent the total number of stem cell lines created in Europe since 27 June 2002?

Has the European Commission funded the import of any embryonic stem cells or embryonic stem cell
lines? How many have been imported? How much did they cost?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2004)

No Community funds have been spent until now on research activities aiming at producing human
embryonic stem cell lines.

In the Fifth Framework Programme (1998-2002), around 60 research activities having at least one stem
cell research activity component, have been funded. A list of these projects is sent direct to the Honourable
Member and to the Secretariat general of the Parliament. Among those, only two projects have a research
component aiming to involve existing human embryonic stem cell lines. All these projects represent in

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total a community contribution of close to EUR 90 million. However, the information regarding the
specific amount of money only dedicated to stem cell research within these projects is not available to the
Commission. Regarding the countries involved, most of the Member States are represented as well as third
countries such as, Switzerland, Israel, Hungary, Norway, etc. More details on the participants of these
projects and the countries involved can be found on the internet site of Cordis (1).

The information on the number of embryos used to create the two stem cell lines in the United Kingdom
and the seven stem cell lines in Sweden is not available to the Commission.

The Commission does not have definitive information on the total number of human embryonic stem cell
lines created in Europe since 27 June 2002. The picture regarding the total number of such lines created in
Europe is continuously evolving. Because the procurement of human embryonic stem cells from
supernumerary embryos is now allowed by law in seven other Member States (B, DK, GR, ES, F, NL, FI),
it is probable that new lines are under development. In particular, the report provided by Astrid Thors,
rapporteur appointed by the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market to draft an opinion on
the proposal for a Council Decision amending Council Decision 2002/834/EC of 30 September 2002 (2)
on the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration: ‘Integrating and
strengthening the European research area’ (2002-2006) (3), mentions that three lines could be available in
Helsinki but does not say anything about their date of production.

All the human embryonic stem cell lines used, until now, in the Community funded projects are existing
lines created outside the Union. As mentioned above, two projects are concerned in the Fifth Framework
Programme: one plans to work on two lines imported from the American National Institute of Health
registry and the other involves an Israeli line for research activities performed in Israel. In the current Sixth
Framework Programme and following the first call for proposals, one proposal that involves a component
of research with a human embryonic stem cell line from the American National Institute of Health registry
could receive funds. As indicated in paragraph 1, the Commission is not in a position to know if the costs
of importation have been included in the Union contracts. The average cost for the lines listed in the
American National Institute of Health registry is USD 5 000-6 000 per line, but only for research use.

(1) http://dbs.cordis.lu/fep/LIFE/LIFE_PROJ1_search.html
(2) OJ L 294, 29.10.2002.
(3) COM(2003) 390.

(2004/C 78 E/0899)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3656/03

by Salvador Jové Peres (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(9 December 2003)

Subject: High quality code NC 1003 00 barley imports

What quantities has each Member State imported annually of the corresponding annual Community
customs tariff quota of 50 000 tons of code NC 1003 00 high quality barley for malt production for use in
manufacturing certain beers aged in barrels containing beechwood, at a tariff of 50 % of the total tariff
type in force from 1996 until 2002?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(26 January 2004)

The following table shows each Member State’s imports from 1996 to 2002 of malting barley for
production of beer aged in barrels containing beechwood.