Ministers from European Union (EU) member states have agreed to continue funding research on embryonic stem cells, amid opposition from a group of mostly Catholic countries which includes Malta. The EU will not fund the procurement of embryonic stem cells but will fund research using cells which are already available.
While Austria, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia and Malta opposed to aspects of the research, scientists insist the cells are the key to treating diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Germany led the opposing group of countries calling for restrictions on the funding of the research. According to BBC News German Research Minister Annette Schavan told fellow ministers "We must conserve human life from its conception. We want no financial incentives to kill embryos," before the decision was taken. The countries in favour of research on embryonic stem cells include Belgium, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
The current rules for EU-funded research stipulate that stem cells can be derived from embryos if they have been produced during fertility treatment and are destined to be destroyed.
In June Bishop of Malta Mgr. Joseph Mercieca and Bishop of Gozo Mgr. Mario Grech, along with the Bishops members of the Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), are dismayed with the European Parliament’s decision to ask the European Union to fund the research about human embryos and human embryonic stem cells.
See also:
Bishops concerned about EU human embryos research
By MaltaMedia News
Jun 22, 2006, 09:37 CET
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