The European Parliament is meeting again in Brussels this week, with an agenda that is centred on the second-call vote on the Seventh Framework Program on research. But other social topics are high on the agenda, such as: across-the-border patients’ mobility; the fight against the spread of HIV; potential measures to promote employment for disabled people. In this respect, the report that is going to be discussed states: "The principle of non discrimination in the access to goods and services is a right that must be guaranteed to every EU citizen". Ten reports will be about the Research and Development program for 2007-2013. "If the MEPs pass the amendments" negotiated with the Council, reads a note from Parliament, "about 54 billion euros will be earmarked to promote research for the next seven years, thus laying the foundations for the European Research Space aimed at enabling the EU to achieve a sustainable economic growth, with new and better jobs and more social cohesion". Two amendments stand out as they try to prevent the allocation of EU funds to tests on embryo stem cells. On Wednesday 29th November, Parliament will hold one debate on the future of the EU and one on the results of the EU-Russia summit of November 24th.
