During the session of the EU Parliament that today gave the go-ahead to the Seventh Framework Program on research under which the EU can allocate funds to tests on embryo stem cells brought to light some disagreement across the political groups and national leaders on "ethically sensitive" subjects. Before passing the amendment submitted by the Itre commission, the EU Parliament had rejected another two amendments that laid down more restrictions on biotechnological research. The amendment drawn up by the EU MPs Gargani and Zaborska, which was against funding stem cells at all, earned 238 votes for and 280 votes against; the amendment submitted by the EU MP Niebler, for allowing research into embryo cells produced before 2001, earned 255 votes for and 274 votes against. The amount of funds that the Seventh Framework Program on research allocates to biotechnology is less than 1% of the overall funding (approximately 50 billion euros). Now, the Seventh Framework Program on research will have to be weighed up by the Competitiveness Council that is going to meet on July 24th, then it will get back to the EU Parliament for the final passage.
