Calls to stop H2020 funding abortion-related research
A public hearing of the European Citizens’ Initiative ‘One of Us’ has been organised for 10 April at the European Parliament in Brussels.
The initiative is calling on the EU to prohibit the financing of activities that presuppose the destruction of human embryos, especially in the areas of research, development aid and public health. The event is organised jointly by the Committee on Development, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and the Committee on Legal Affairs, in association with the Petitions Committee.
The proposal states: “The European Commission does not explicitly solicit the use of human embryonic stem cells. The use of human stem cells, be they adult or embryonic, if any, depends on the judgement of the scientists in view of the objectives they want to achieve and is subject to stringent Ethics Review.
“No project involving the use of human embryonic stem cells should be funded that does not obtain the necessary approvals from EU member states. No activity should be funded that is forbidden in all member states. No activity should be funded in a member state where such activity is forbidden.”
It has been reported that the research committee is reluctant to reopen debates that complicated the adoption of Horizon 2020.
The Commission’s initial proposal in 2011 allowed EU funding from Horizon 2020 for research involving human stem cells, as long as projects received “the necessary approvals from the member states” and respected “fundamental ethical principles”.
