Friday July 21, 2006
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.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/nov/05112904.html
EU Approves Full Public Funding of Embryo Research
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