Germany, open debate

Physician, a doctorate in human genetics at Bonn University, member of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZDK), president of the EPP working group on bioethics, Peter Liese is one of the German MEPs who openly supports the campaign “One of Us”. Besides the legislative process that may ensue, the ongoing mobilization and one million signatures that are being collected – he told SIR Europe – will be “an important sign” for European political debate. Why do you support the initiative “One of Us”? “I consider it important to explore the consequences of the judgement released by the European Court of Justice on the Brüstle case. In that ruling on whether human embryos can be destroyed the Court referred to human dignity, highlighting its inviolability from the moment of conception. Human dignity is one of the key principles of the EU, upheld in the first article of the Charter of Fundamental Rights that defends it and that can’t be amended for each question linked to human embryos that falls within the specific responsibility of the EU, which includes patentability (as in the Brüstle case, which obtained a patent on a proceeding which in order to cure Parkinson’s Alzheimer’s diseases, used embryo stem cells imported from Germany. After a report lodged by Greenpeace, the German Federal Patent Bureau withdrew the patent in 2006”.(The ensuing appeal was dismissed by the European Court of Justice, ed.’s note). Which cultural commitment is needed to raise public awareness on this issue so as to prompt citizens to endorse the initiative? “The signature-collection in Germany hasn’t yet tackled the nub of the matter, although a debate is under way. It should also be considered that the percentage of Catholics in Germany is low and it should be compared to a high percentage of members of evangelical churches, not to mention that it’s not an initiative that sprung within national borders. There is also a problem with the German translation which I think should be solved, and it’s crucial to obtain a more consistent support in Germany”. What are you referring to?”The English version states that the EU should not economically support organizations that ‘encourage or promote abortion’, while the German text speaks of organizations that “encourage or practice abortion.’ The two documents are thus making different claims. In fact, it means that in the case of a large hospital, or university ward that carries out important work in the area of research, but where abortion is practiced, the structure will not receive EU funding. This is not the meaning of the initiative. In some areas unfortunately abortion is practiced despite no form of promotion or encouragement of abortion is carried out. We prefer the English version, thus the German one will need to be reviewed”.What form of sensibility has been detected on these themes on the part of your MEP colleagues? “The initiative enjoys major support across many European countries, but unfortunately not by the majority of MEPs. But if the campaign will collect one million signatures it will be an important sign and I believe that it will have to be acknowledged”.Do you think that once the initiative is presented in the Commission it will be possible to obtain a legislative proposal? Will European institutions be willing to protect the embryo and human life in the realm of scientific research? “It’s hard to tell in advance, since it is a new tool. There is only an example, the initiative on water is the only one that collected one million signatures to date. In that case the Commission reacted immediately. This is like a precedent, but I think we can’t be sure that the initiative One of US will immediately become legislation. Especially as regards funding to research I think it will be hard, as the legislative procedures to this regard have almost reached their conclusion. A proposal by the Commission was already presented in Parliament and it isn’t likely to be subjected to amendments. However, in any case it’s an important sign and the initiative can serve to prevent serious damage. Over the past days there was much talk on the case of the first cloning of an embryo in Germany. Some people say it’s an important step forward and in Germany there is widespread concern. At present, legislation excludes the possibility of carrying out research programs of any sort on the cloning of embryos. I imagine that some colleagues will want to reopen the debate and the One of Us initiative can help to avoid this, as it already expresses a strong popular voice. Being very rigorous in the protection of human life will help us avoid approaches that are far from specific ethical norms. Thus, to be honest, I think that in all likelihood the initiative will stumble against many obstacles before it becomes a law, but in any case it will have virtuous effects on the ethical and political debate in Europe”.