Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

|  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/42 |

---

(2004/C 84 E/0046)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2945/03

by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) to the Council

(8 October 2003)

Subject:   Specific programme for research

In the explanatory memorandum of the proposal for a Council Decision amending decision 2002/834/EC on the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration ‘Integrating and strengthening the European research area’ (2002-2006),[(1)](#ntr1-CE2004084EN.01004201-E0001), it is said that in the course of the ethical review, there will be an assessment of whether a free, express and informed consent of the donors has been obtained.

As it is intended that the stem cells for research will be obtained from early stage human embryos, can the Council confirm:

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| — | who will donate the stem cells, from whom will they be harvested? |

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| — | how will it intend to obtain consent from these human beings who will donate their stem cells, who are not able to communicate verbally or orally at this specific stage of their development? |

Reply

(8 March 2004)

The Council attaches great importance to respecting fundamental ethical principles in the implementation of the specific research programme referred to by the Honourable Member. In this respect, Council Decision 2002/834/EC of 30 September 2002[(2)](#ntr2-CE2004084EN.01004201-E0002) stipulates that, ‘inter alia’, ‘Where appropriate, participants in research projects must seek the approval of the relevant national or local ethics committees prior to the start of the RTD activities. An ethical review will be implemented systematically by the Commission for proposals dealing with ethically sensitive issues, in particular proposals involving the use of human embryos and human embryonic stem cells’.

Regarding the Commission proposal for amending the specific programme mentioned in the question, the Council invites the Honourable Parliamentarian to refer to the conclusions adopted following its meeting held on 3 December 2003, where the President, at the end of the discussion, concluded that no agreement could be reached either on the Commission proposal as amended in the light of the opinion given by the European Parliament in November or on the Presidency text put forward for the occasion.

---

[Top](#document1)