Investing more in research as an "added value for the Europe of tomorrow"; "creating a researcher-friendly climate" and "avoiding European brain drain at all means"; "supporting small- and medium-sized companies for economic development" in terms of new technology; finding solutions "based on ethical principles". These are the guidelines that emerged from the debate that was held yesterday at the EU Parliament in Strasbourg about the 2007/2013 Seventh Framework Program for research. Very different positions emerged about the lines of research that the EU is expected to subsidise with the EU funds. Very controversial is the subject of research into stem cells. The EU Parliament will be called to vote on the program tomorrow morning; many amendments have been submitted, also about "ethically sensitive" topics. In his speech, commissioner Janez Potoènik stated: "Today is an important day for science" as he highlighted the fact the 54 billion that have been allocated to the sector "are less than what had been proposed by the EU Commission but are still a substantial amount that will boost" science and experiments. As to stem cells, the commissioner said he is convinced that "given the diversity of the positions taken by the member states, we need a wary, pragmatic, case-by-case approach".
