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Germany Hopes to Block Deadly Human Embryo Experimentation in the EU

By Gudrun Schultz

BRUSSELS, Germany, July 21, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Germany is working to influence members of the European Union to join together to try to block EU funding for embryonic stem-cell research, Reuters reported yesterday. 

“The European Union science programme should not be used to give financial incentives to kill embryos,” German Research Minister Annette Schavan wrote, in a letter seen by Reuters.

“The current proposal from the European Commission and the European Parliament does not rule this out.”

A proposal by Finland, the country currently holding the EU rotating presidency, would permit funding for research on embryonic stem cells, while prohibiting certain uses of the funding—research on human cloning, human genetic modification and the artificial creation of human embryos for research would be banned.

Germany is working to rally a coalition of predominantly Catholic countries to block EU funding of embryonic stem cell research. The country has hopes that Italy will join in opposing the Finland proposal, strengthening the opposition sufficiently to force an amendment on the measure. Other European countries opposed to embryonic research include Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovenia, Lithuania and Ireland.

The EU approved funding for embryonic stem cell research last month, with a narrow majority, in a surprise vote on science research funding. If Germany’s efforts are successful, the amendment would force another reading of the measure in Parliament.

Germany itself has effectively banned all research using embryonic stem cells, arguably in part on account of the nation’s sensitivity to any hint of eugenics motivated research, following the disastrous consequences of the country’s early 20th century period of Nazi-led genetic experimentation.

In 2005 Germany and Italy joined with Austria, Poland and Slovakia in authoring a joint declaration petitioning the EU to cancel plans for funding research using human embryos. The petition called for funding directed exclusively toward adult stem cell research.

Human embryonic stem cell research is supported by a majority of European nations, led by the UK. Most of the EU governments have indicated they want to retain the option of public funding for the research.

See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:

Malta, Italy, Germany, Poland and Slovakia Object to EU Funding of Embryonic Stem Cell Research
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/nov/05112904.html

EU Approves Full Public Funding of Embryo Research

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