WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4224/97 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI , Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Genetic modifications
C 196/104 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 22. 6. 98 2. Why does the Council promise transparency and openness while in the same Official Journal (C 367 of 4 December 1997) refusing information on the grounds of confidentiality? 3. How does the Council intend to treat its decisions in future: transparently or secretly? (1) OJ C 367, 4. 12. 1997, p. 99. (2) OJ C 367, 4. 12. 1997, p. 56. Answer (7 April 1998) The Council would like to inform the Honourable Member of the European Parliament that it has not yet adopted any final legislative act as regards the Commission proposal concerning a ban on drift-nets. Therefore, no vote has taken place within the Council on this matter. The provisions concerning legislative transparency in the Council (the making public of votes, explanations of votes, and statements in the Councilís minutes) only apply at the final adoption stage of legislative acts by the Council. This stage has not as yet been reached and accordingly the provisions in question do not apply. Other transparency measures concerning access to specific Council documents are regulated by Council Decision 93/731/EC on public access to Council documents (1). (1) OJ L 340, 31. 12. 93, p. 43. (98/C 196/145) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4224/97 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) and Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (21 January 1998) Subject: Genetic modifications On the contemporary scientific scene genetic research and its findings are among the most exciting achievements of the century. Unfortunately the lack of regulation leads to irresponsible use of this scientific development, causing serious health and ethical problems which can no longer be ignored or underestimated. The first of these is the possibility of future genetic damage caused by couples who, unaware of their shared genetic heritage, may give birth to children with certain genetic abnormalities. Does the Commission not consider: that it would be useful and appropriate to propose rules making strict health checks on donors of semen 1. compulsory; that it is essential to establish a maximum number of eggs to be fertilized by the same donorís semen, in 2. order to limit the risks of inter-breeding between blood-relations? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (11 March 1998) Recourse to legislation on the issues raised in the question is a matter for the Member States. In the context of its research work into biomedical ethics, the Biomedicine and Health Research Programme (Biomed) has funded a series of seminars on the ethical aspects of the donation of gametes. The question of limiting the number of births per donor has been discussed in this context. Codes of practice exist at national level in certain Member States and at the centres responsible for gamete donation, but the Community has no powers in this domain