WRITTEN QUESTION No. 906/99 by Manuel ESCOLÁ HERNANDO Spanish policy on xenotransplants
C 27 E/24 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 1. 2000 The Commission, for its part, is in favour of trying to establish synergies and increasing the consistency between the ESAís space policy and that laid down at EU level in the Commission communication of December 1996 entitled The European Union and Spaceí (1). (1) COM(96) 617 final. (2000/C 27 E/026) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0906/99 by Manuel EscolÆ Hernando (ARE) to the Commission Subject: Spanish policy on xenotransplants (8 April 1999) The Council of Europeís spokesman on bioethics recently cast doubt on Spanish legislation on xenotrans- plants, describing it as posing a threat to humans. Spanish legislation provides that researchers may conduct trials on humans involving the transplantation of organs taken from transgenic pigs when trials with primates have proved successful and no virus infections have been detected for a period of six months. Does the Commission share the opinion voiced by the Council of Europeís spokesman on bioethics with regard to Spanish legislation? If so, what action will it take? What is the Commissionís view of the fact that the Spanish Minister for Health has not accepted the moratorium on this type of research recommended by the Council of Europe? Does the Commission share the Council of Europeís view that such research should be suspended? Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (7 May 1999) Discussion of the subject of xenotransplants has been takin place within various Council of Europe bodies for several years. In 1997, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe made a recommendation (RC(97)15) on xenotransplants calling on the Member States to regulate and register all activities relating to basic and applied research, the breeding of animals for xenotransplants and the long-term monitoring of transplanted subjects. Furthermore, in January 1999 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a recommendation calling for a moratorium on xenotransplants, but this is not legally binding. Lastly, a Working Party on Xenotransplants has been jointly set up by the Council of Europe Steering Committees on Bioethics and on Public Health, on which the Commission has observer status. The regulation of clinical trials is an area of national competence. However, the pooling of scientific research efforts, in particular to evaluate the risks of infection due to xenotransplants, and research on ethics is a priority under both the 4th and the 5th framework research programmes. (2000/C 27 E/027) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0917/99 by Eryl McNally (PSE) to the Commission (8 April 1999) Subject: Equal opportunities and the Fifth Framework Programme Can the Commission assure me that reference will be made in the tender documents for all projects to the equal opportunities and mainstreaming focus which Parliament added to the Fifth Framework Programme?