EU set for clash over stem cell research

Experiments on embryonic stem cells face a possible EU funding ban as a German led coalition fights to outlaw the controversial research.

Germany, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Malta and Luxembourg are all expected to oppose EU funding on embryonic stem cell research at a meeting of competitiveness ministers in Brussels on Monday.

Ministers are looking to iron out any last minute funding problems as they seek an agreement on the EU’s €54bn seventh research framework programme (FP7).

But member states continue to be split over the thorny issue of embryonic stem cells with Germany leading the current coalition of countries likely to vote against FP7 unless embryonic research is removed.

Berlin and its allies have concerns that they will end up indirectly paying for research in other countries that is restricted or severely prohibited at home.

But without the support of at least one other member state, the Berlin led group will fail to gather enough votes to create a so called "blocking minority".

Possible waverers such as Slovenia are said to now be within Europe’s pro-research camp, while Italy, one of the key objectors to embryonic stem cell funding in FP6 has, after a change of government, withdrawn its support for blocking the current budget.

Applications for EU money to fund stem cell research are currently dealt with on a case by case basis by the European commission.

And despite the relatively insignificant amounts of money spent on EU funded stem cell programmes, the issue of research is highly controversial both in Europe in the US.

The EU split on stem cells, follows US president, George W Bush’s veto on the use of federal cash for stem cell research earlier this month.

And the issue has also divided the European parliament, with MEPs in June, only narrowly backing FP7’s funding programme for embryonic research.

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