Euro MPs vote against embryo stem cell research

The European Parliament voted last week against all forms of human cloning and put heavy restrictions on research on stem cells taken from early human embryos, after a series of amendments were added to a directive originally intended to protect the health of those receiving donated cells or tissues.

Researchers and patient groups have expressed concern over the result, which is being viewed as a victory for pro-life lobby groups. The UK government voted two years ago to allow embryo stem cell research, and has said it will work to prevent a European Union (EU) ban.

Scientists are seeking to develop new disease treatments by carrying out research on embryo stem cells, which can develop into a range of different body tissues. But Austrian Christian Democrat MEP Maria Louise Flemming, who tabled the 50 amendments calling for the ban, argued that 'from the moment of conception, you create all the characteristics of a person'. UK Labour MEP David Bowe said the result 'flies in the face of logic and human compassion to seriously curtail potentially ground-breaking areas of scientific research'. He told BBC News Online that 'we are going to start working very hard to ensure these amendments don't go through'.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has just published a report on the scientific, ethical, legal and socio-economic issues surrounding human embryonic stem cells, in preparation for a debate on EU funding of such research.' This report and forthcoming seminar are not about establishing EU legislation on ethical questions' said European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin, adding that Europe had a 'legitimate diversity of rules and ethical frameworks' in this area of research.