The EU Parliament passed today, with a large majority, the Seventh Framework Program on research for 2007/2013, under which the EU, by allocating just over 50 billion euros, backs up scientific essays and tests to be applied to innovative technology and economic competitiveness (especially for small- and medium-sized enterprises), telecommunication, environmental defence, health and consumer protection. The voting also went in favour of the amendments submitted by the Itre commission (industry and research) which will fund tests on embryo stem cells produced for in vitro fertilisation but not implanted, at least in those countries in which this is allowed by the national legislation. This will not include research aimed at human cloning, at producing inheritable modifications of the human genome or creating human embryos purely for research purposes. The passed amendment, which substantiates the current funding system, has been passed with 284 votes for, 249 votes against, 32 abstentions, which reflected the deep ethic and political disagreement that surfaced from the debate held in Strasbourg last Tuesday about that subject. (to be continued)
