Despite clear reservations expressed by Malta and a handful of other EU competition ministers, the EU’s Competitiveness Council yesterday found the qualified majority it needed to endorse the financing of human embryonic stem cell research through the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7).

The approval comes following policy turnarounds by former stiff opponents Italy and Germany. Italy’s U-turn follows the change in government to Prodi’s centre-left coalition, while Germany altered its stance when it was clarified that the destruction of embryos will not be foreseen in future research funding.

Following yesterday’s extraordinary session dedicated solely to the issue, funding for research on human embryonic stem cells in EU member states that allow the practice will now be given, provided a number of onerous regulatory criteria are met at a research project’s inception. Such projects will also be subject to regular regulatory reviews.

In a long-drawn out debate, which ran close to four hours overtime, competitiveness ministers were seen struggling to hammer out a compromise. Hard line countries – which included Malta, Poland, Austria, Lithuania and Slovakia – were unrelenting in their opposition and surrendered no ground during the debate.

Speaking at yesterday’s session, Maltese competitiveness minister Censu Galea stood firmly against the inclusion of embryonic stem cell research funding as part of the EU’s FP7 funding for 2007-2013.

“We appreciate the Commission’s proposal and the statement goes in the right direction, but it does not go far enough to safeguard human life,” Mr Galea told the assembly. “Like Poland, we feel the compromise is too difficult for a country like Malta to accept.

“We thank the Commission and the President for their efforts to find a compromise. We support the FP7 but regret that we cannot go along on the basis of Article 6 (which deals with funding for human embryonic stem cell research). Our position has not changed and we will therefore be voting against the proposal.”

The Council, however, made it clear that the FP7 must not, under any circumstances, finance research aimed at human cloning for reproductive purposes, research intended to modify the genetic heritage of human beings that could make such changes inheritable, or research intended to create human embryos solely for the purpose of research or the purpose of stem cell procurement, including by means of somatic cell nuclear transfer.

The issue will now move to the European Parliament for a second reading and could be expected to be finalised and legislated by the end of the year so as to provide for a seamless transition from FP6 to FP7.

The EP has already approved the FP7 budget of close to e50 billion, including Article 6, by a narrow margin and it is thought that the Council’s amendment will be passed by a similar margin.

While Malta gives no quarter to human embryonic stem cell research, it does approve of the use of stem cells derived from adult or cord blood stem cells. Nor does Malta have any objection to using embryonic stem cells and stem cell lines derived from naturally aborted embryos or foetuses – as in the case of miscarriages.

Malta is also opposed to experimentation on existing cell clone lines, available on the market, of human embryonic stem cells.