The research on embryonic stem cells is confined to those cells derived from embryos resulting from in vitro fertilisation treatment designed to induce pregnancy and no longer required for that purpose. On foot of the establishment of the moratorium, which expires at the end of this year, the Commission held an inter-institutional seminar to tease out the guidelines. It subsequently presented its proposal in on 9 July 2003. The proposal is for a Council decision to amend the research programme. It proposes to establish a detailed set of implementing provisions concerning any research activities involving human embryos and human embryonic stem cells.