Commission appeases ethics concerns with list of areas not to be funded in FP6

Brussels, 17 May 2002

Recognising concerns among the European Parliament and some Member States on ethical issues in conjunction with the next Framework programme, FP6, the Commission has issued a formal statement clarifying research areas which will not receive Community funding.

'In line with the opinion of the European Parliament on the Sixth Framework programme proposal and with the advice of the European group on ethics in science and new technologies, the Commission considers that the following fields of research should not be financed under the Framework programme,' the declaration begins.

Areas listed in the statement are:

- research activity aiming at human cloning for reproductive purposes:

- research activity intended to modify the genetic heritage of human beings, which could make such changes hereditary;

- research activities intended to create human embryos solely for the purpose of research or for the purpose of stem cell procurement, including by means of somatic cell nuclear transfer.

The statement also makes clear that animal testing should not be funded by FP6 if alternative methods are possible.

'This declaration is not part of the framework, but should have a binding character. It will be a guideline for the specific programmes,' reads the Commission statement.

'My objective, I remind you, should by no means be understood as to plan a harmonisation at European level of rules in the area of ethics. The Commission simply has the wish to advance European research in the respect of the prerogatives of every Member State and their parliaments,' said Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin in response to requests for a Commission statement.

CORDIS RTD-NEWS/© European Communities, 2001