STEM CELLS
Another defeat for Europe? The decision taken by the EU Competitiveness Council on Monday 24 July with regard to the Seventh Framework Programme for research, in which an ambiguous position was inserted on EU funding of experiments on stem cells, could prompt accusations of the failure of the project of integration. It almost always happens like this: when Brussels (the vagueness of the geographical appellation often betrays ignorance of the institutions of the European Union, their respective powers, legislative/decision-making procedures, and the political processes that precede them at the Community level) sends conflicting or potentially negative messages, the finger of blame is pointed at a “common home” that everyone inhabits but that few seem willing to construct. In fact the ministers meeting in the Competitiveness Council represent their own governments – of various political complexions – and their millions of electors. The same goes for the 732 MEPs who voted in June for this same Programme that permits research on stem cells. Ministers and MEPs are the bearers of very different ethical values, cultures, traditions and legacies; the “unity in diversity” of the EU is also measured at this level (just as it is at the economic, social, linguistic, juridical and cultural levels). The basic problem consists in popular culture, in widespread popular sentiment, and in the shared values of the European peoples: the “technical” decision on the Framework Programme for EU research ought to revive the attention that citizens pay to the principle/value of life and the defence of life itself in every moment (from conception to death, and every single phase and aspect between them, because life needs to be defended in every instant and not just on its outer frontiers). As regards the ethical formation and socio-political participation of believers, we need to think especially in terms of a future perspective: now research on stem cells is at stake (the issue will be re-discussed by the European Parliament in the autumn, together with the whole research programme), but soon many other challenges will arrive, on the fronts of euthanasia, new forms of cohabitation, peace, social equity, and international justice… They will all be occasions to struggle for the defence of life. Will believers – Italians or Germans, Swedes, Maltese or Spaniards – be able to make their voices heard loudly and clearly again in the appropriate institutions? Will they be able at the same time to foster constructive ethical and cultural debates in their respective countries and at the European level?The 50th anniversary of the launch of the process of European integration will be celebrated in 2007. The driving forces of that process in its “embryonic” phase were Catholic politicians of the calibre of Alcide De Gasperi, Robert Schuman and Konrad Adenauer: do we still have – and will we still have in future – believing men and women able to bring their own convictions and testify their own values in the European political forums of our time? Fact File Below, a résumé of the main contents of the document on the Seventh Framework Programme for Research 2007-2013, approved by the EU Competitiveness Council in Brussels on 24 July. “The decision on the Seventh Framework Programme explicitly excludes three fields of research from EU funding: that aimed “at human cloning for reproductive purposes”; that aimed “at modifying the genetic make-up of human beings, which could result in such modifications becoming hereditary”; and that aimed “at creating human embryos exclusively for research purposes or for the purpose of procuring stem cells also through the nuclear transfer of somatic cells”. “No activity that is banned in all member states shall be funded by the EU – states the document -. “The decision on the Programme does not in any way involve a value judgement on the system of regulation or the ethical standards that regulate such research in the member states”. Even if the European Commission “does not explicitly solicit the use of human embryonal stem cells”, it will be the scientists, “in view of the objectives they want to achieve”, who will judge whether their “eventual use” is appropriate. “Each project – explains the document – that proposes the utilization of human embryonal stem cells must positively overcome a scientific assessment” conducted by “independent experts”. This will be followed by “a stringent ethical review conducted by the European Commission” that will take into account the principles contained in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and, among other documents, the Convention of Oviedo on human rights and biomedicine and its additional protocols, and the Universal Declaration on the human genome and human rights adopted by UNESCO. The last stage in the vetting process laid down is “the approval, case by case, by the member states, meeting in the Regulatory Committee”. With a view to “coordination and rationalization of research on embryonal stem cells”, the Commission “shall support the creation of a European Register of human stem cell lines”. Lastly, “the European Commission shall not submit to the Regulatory Committee any proposals for research projects that would involve the destruction of human embryos, including those for the procurement of stem cells. The exclusion of funds for this stage of research shall not impede”, however, EU funding “in subsequent stages involving stem cells obtained from human embryos”.
