Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001947/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR), Fernand Kartheiser (ECR), Margarita de la Pisa Carrión (PfE), Stephen Nikola Bartulica (ECR)
Under the Horizon Europe funding programme, 47 projects involving human embryonic stem cells or human embryos have been funded by the EU for approximately EUR 14 million[1]. Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 2021/695[2] sets clear limitations on the types of activities that are eligible for funding under Horizon Europe, including creating human embryos solely for the purpose of research or stem cell procurement. Furthermore, under Article 19, all research activities must comply with ethical principles and relevant Union, national and international law.
With regards to these principles, we would like to ask the following questions:
- 1.Available information on the 47 listed projects is very limited. How does the Commission ensure that these projects fully comply with the above-mentioned regulation and how does it ensure public access to this information?
- 2.Several listed projects aim to improve embryo selection during in vitro fertilisation. How does the Commission ensure that these projects do not promote or normalise eugenic practices in contradiction to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights?
- 3.Some listed projects mention that human embryos are used to replace animal testing. Does the Commission consider this ethically acceptable and how is human dignity safeguarded in these cases?
Submitted: 14.5.2025
- [1] Written answer by Commissioner Iliana Ivanova as a follow-up to the hearing of 4 November 2024.
- [2] Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, laying down its rules for participation and dissemination, and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1290/2013 and (EU) No 1291/2013, OJ L 170, 12.5.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/695/oj.