Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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# 92000E1949

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-1949/00 by Ulla Sandbæk (EDD) to the Commission. Biomedical ethics and bioethics.** 
  
*Official Journal 072 E , 06/03/2001 P. 0156 - 0157*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1949/00

by Ulla Sandbæk (EDD) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Biomedical ethics and bioethics

One of the aims of the European Parliament and Council Decision No 182/1999/EC(1) of 22 December 1998 concerning the fifth framework programme for research is the study of problems relating to biomedical ethics and bioethics in the context of respect for fundamental human values.

I have the impression, however, that this area has gradually been downgraded in terms of priority. While the fourth framework programme for research had an allocation of 30 million, the fifth framework programme has only 10 million. Of this sum only 2,5 million had been distributed at the time of the last disbursement, which means that only very few projects can benefit.

Firstly, how and to what extent was the GAEIB's opinion No 10 taken as the basis for the current priorities in this area and, secondly, how does the Commission envisage biomedical ethics and bioethics being retained as a research sector?

(1) OJ L 26, 1.2.1999, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2000)

The Honourable Member correctly points out that under the fifth framework programme for research the level of financial support so far attributed to the study of problems relating to biomedical ethics and bioethics in the context of fundamental human values has been at a lower level than in the previous framework programme.

This is mainly due to the limited funding available for the whole area of generic activities in the programme Quality of life and management of living resources (QoL) of which research on biomedical ethics and bioethics is just one part.

As outlined in the Commission's communication of January 2000 on the European research area(1), the Commission attaches great importance to the development of a shared vision on ethical issues in Europe, especially in the context of life sciences. Research on bio-ethics will play an indispensable role in this context.

Opinion No 10 of the Group of advisors for the ethical implications of biotechnology had indeed drawn the attention of the Commission to the necessity of research.

The Commission is examining means of redistributing priorities within the generic activities of the QoL programme, perhaps by means of additional calls for proposals for research on biomedical ethics and bioethics, in line with the realization of the concept of a European research area.

(1) COM(2000) 6 final.

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