Research on stem cells for reproductive purposes, the creation of embryos only for research purposes and activities that will modify the genetic heritage of human beings are excluded from the scope of EU funding.

The research programmes will only be financed under strict compliance with national legislation: no work on, for instance, embryonic research will benefit from European Community finance in a country where this type of research is forbidden.

The 25 Member States have very different legislation on work on embryonic stem cells, the cells that can later differentiate into all types of body cell (heart, nerve, muscle, etc.)

In France, Denmark, Spain and Greece, for instance, searchers may use supernumerary embryonic (spare IVF embryo) stem cells from in vitro fertilisations, while Austria, Lithuania and Poland strictly forbid it (see also article on “Confidence in Biotechnology”, on this website).