Category Archives: Ethics, Research & Health


Scientific research and technological development make a major contribution to the integral development and the quality of life of human beings, especially, but not only, in the area of health where new therapeutic options become increasingly available. They are also an important motor of economic growth. COMECE chiefly covers the bioethical issues that arise at the EU level in the ambits of health and of research, although the main competences with regard to these matters remain largely at the Member States’ level. COMECE is assisted in this mission by a Working Group on Ethics.
Ethics, Research & Health, Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

EU Bishops address the President of the Parliament on the recent Resolution on abortion in Poland

The Presidency of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) addresses a letter to David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament, with regard to the European Parliament Resolution of 26 November 2020 on abortion in Poland. In their letter, the EU Bishops emphasize once again that the Catholic Church, which seeks to support women in life situations arising from difficult or … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

EU Foundational Principles Demand Vaccine Equity

The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) and Caritas Europa are urging the EU institutions to ensure vaccine access for all, promoting a “widescale vaccination not only for Europe´s own safety and protection, but also for global public health as a public good”. With the COVID-19 pandemic having already entered into its second year, COMECE and Caritas Europa praised the swift … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

COMECE-FAFCE joint Webinar on “The Elderly and the Future of Europe”

Following the publication of a joint Reflection Paper on “The Elderly and the Future of Europe“, COMECE and the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe are glad to invite you to an online event to reflect on the role of the elderly in a context of pandemic and demographic change. The event will be held on Monday 1 March 2021, from 15:00 to 16:15 … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

COMECE-FAFCE reflection on the role of the elderly in times of demographic change

“Elderly people are a gift and a resource, […] they cannot be seen as separated from communities”, states the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) together with FAFCE in the reflection paper “The Elderly and the Future of Europe”, jointly published on Thursday 3 December 2020. COMECE-FAFCE General Secretaries: “Let’s transform the Covid-19 crisis into an opportunity for a shift of … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

COMECE on Covid-19 vaccines: “vulnerable people and health workers should come first”

“Future Covid-19 vaccines should be available, affordable and accessible, especially for elderly people, ill persons and health workers”. This is one of the messages sent to the EU and its Member States by the Assembly of the COMECE Working Group on Ethics, which gathered in video conference on Thursday 1 October 2020 to exchange on the “Ethical challenges of Europe in times of the Covid-19 … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

A sustained ethical discourse has to accompany discussions on regulating AI

In its contribution to the ‘Consultation on the White Paper on Artificial Intelligence – A European Approach’, COMECE calls the EU institutions to adopt a human-centric approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in order to promote the common good and serve the lives of all human beings both in their personal and community dimensions. The COMECE contribution, published on 14 June 2020, welcomes the White Paper’s … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

Time for the EU to take a stand for the rights of the elderly

Up to half of the people who died of Covid-19 in Europe are elderly people and many of them were residents of long-term care facilities. “It is time to stop the ‘culture of waste’ and focus on more public policies supporting families”, states the General Secretary of COMECE on Wednesday 13 May 2020. In the current pandemic, elderly people represent the most vulnerable part of … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Covid-19, COMECE welcomes EGE call for vigilance of restrictive measures

COMECE welcomes the statement recently released by the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE), calling the EU and its Member States to be vigilant on the “necessity and proportionality of any policy and technological intervention that – taken in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic – suspends, even temporarily, fundamental rights”. Since late February 2020 the EU and its Member States … Continue reading »