In a statement the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) expressed “deep regret” over the negative decision of the European Commission regarding the Citizens Initiative “One of Us” asking for the end of financing of research using human embryos.
“COMECE regrets the decision of the EU Commission—says the press release—not to act on the demands of this democratic initiative. It is COMECE's conviction, grounded on ethical, legal, scientific and even economic arguments, that such funding should not be accepted.” According to the Bishops, while Brussels’ decision merely describes the current legal framework, defined on the basis of a democratic process in parliament, there is however in this a risk of a weakening the specific instrument of the citizens’ democratic initiative, which is in fact expressly provided for by the Treaty of Lisbon in order to bridge the gap between lawmakers and the citizens they represent.
The statement stresses the importance of referring again to the European Group on Ethics (EGE), and the Bishops conclude on a hopeful note by saying that this decision should not discourage European Christians from continuing to promote policy proposals, at EU level as well as on national level.
