The key elements and implications of the guidelines are that the proposals are based on the principle of ethical subsidiarity. In this context, this means that the European Union will not support or fund research in a member state where such research is not legal or deemed ethical. All proposals for research will be subject to ethical review both at local and EU level. The EU will only support research on supernumerary embryos derived from IVF and donated before 27 June 2002. The effect of this cut off date is that there must be no incentive to produce new embryos as a result of the programme. In addition, the creation of embryos specifically for research purposes is prohibited. This prohibition is in line with the Oviedo convention.