MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
5 September 2000
pursuant to Rule 37(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Maurizio Turco, Emma Bonino, Marco Pannella, Marco Cappato, Gianfranco Dell'Alba, Benedetto Della Vedova and Olivier Dupuis
on behalf of the TDI Group
on the cloning of human embryos for therapeutic purposes
B5‑0762/2000
European Parliament resolution on the cloning of human embryos for therapeutic purposes
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions of 28 October 1993 on the cloning of the human embryo[1] and 12 March 1997 on cloning[2],
– having regard to the Council of Europe Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine and the additional protocol thereto prohibiting the cloning of human beings,
– having regard to the opinion of the European Group on Ethics of 28 May 1997 on the ethical aspects of cloning techniques,
A. having regard to the progress made in recent years in the biotechnology sector and the considerable possibilities for medical treatments that would benefit humankind,
B. whereas this progress means that the relevant legislation needs to be updated in order to permit research into the cloning of embryos for therapeutic purposes, while retaining the prohibition on reproductive cloning,
1. Welcomes the recent decision by the United Kingdom Government to bring before parliament a proposal based on suggestions made by various prestigious bioethics committees designed to permit the cloning and use of human embryos not more than 14 days old for therapeutic purposes, while reaffirming the ban on reproductive cloning;
2. Believes that the drawing up of a clear and precise legal framework authorising experiments in the cloning of human embryos for therapeutic purposes – rather than an outright ban – would make it possible to prevent unrestrained abuses;
3. Is convinced that legalising research in this sector could open up new frontiers in the fields of science and health offering a wealth of potential remedies to diseases that are currently difficult or impossible to cure and from which millions of people are suffering;
4. Calls on the European Union and the Member States to contribute to the development of science by legalising – i.e. placing under strict public control – research into the cloning of human embryos for therapeutic purposes:
5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.