Current status: see update.
The highest part of the European Union, the Council of Ministers, will vote this coming Monday (24th July) on whether to fund the killing of human embryos for so-called research purposes.
The vote will determine whether the EU will allocate 2 billion euros for human cloning, embryonic stem cell research and other unethical types of experimentation which abuse and
destroy embryonic children and which exploit women.
On major issues such as budget decisions, the EU operates what is known as a 'co-decision' procedure, which involves the EU Commission, the European Parliament and the
Council of Ministers. Monday's vote is the last act of a co-decision procedure.
Update:
Ministers from member states of the European Union have recommended that funding for research using embryonic stem cells should continue, but not for the actual harvesting of embryonic stem cells, which is directly destructive of the embryo. The European Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potocnik proposed the compromise, which won support from Germany, Italy and Slovenia - countries which had opposed earlier funding schemes. Austria, Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Slovakia voted maintained their opposition to the proposals.. The decision must now be confirmed by the European Parliament. [BBC News, 24 July]
