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, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

New technologies, “Rome call for Artificial Intelligence ethics”

“The scope and acceleration of the transformations of the digital era have in fact raised unforeseen problems and situations that challenge our individual and collective ethos”, stated Pope Francis in his message addressed to the participants of the international workshop “The ‘good’ algorithm? Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Law, Health”, organised on 26-28 February 2020 at the Vatican on the occasion of the 26th General Assembly of … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

World Day of the Sick: COMECE welcomes EU plan against cancer

On the occasion of last week’s World Day of the Sick, COMECE welcomes “Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan”, recently launched by the European Commission to propose actions for all stages of the disease. Pope Francis: “solidarity, subsidiarity […] and cooperation to ensure that everyone has access to suitable treatments for preserving and restoring their health”. Recent statistics show that every year, in the European Union, 3.5 … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE on new technologies: “need to intensify the public debate for a human-centric approach”

The Assembly of the COMECE Working Group on Ethics gathered in Brussels on Monday 7 October 2019 to discuss on national and EU developments in the field of ethics, and took stock of the recently published COMECE reflections on “Robotization of Life” and “Uncrewed Armed Systems”. In the context of the legal and ethical EU framework for Artificial Intelligence (AI) indicated by Ursula von der … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

COMECE Assembly “Autumn 2019” to focus on EU ecological policies centered on persons, families and communities

Delegates of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union will gather in Brussels on 23-25 October 2019 to participate in the Autumn 2019 COMECE Assembly, with the participation of H. Em. Card. Jean-Claude Hollerich S.J., President of COMECE. In the context of the renewed European institutions, EU Bishops will engage with EU officials reflecting on post-EU elections challenges, both from the institutional and policy levels. … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Press

NEWS

Road Safety: EU Bishops promote responsibility

For the second consecutive year, COMECE supports “Project EDWARD”, the European day without a road death, endorsed by the European Commission to make Europe’s roads safer and to reduce the number of accidents in the EU. According to a recent study, road traffic accidents in EU Member States claimed about 25.600 lives and left more than 1.4 million people injured in 2016. These numbers tend … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Press

NEWS

Will the EU face AI’s ethical, legal and political challenges?

The High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI) set up by the European Commission published on 26 June 2019 the document “Policy and investments recommendations for trustworthy AI”. The publication highlights some of the recommendations expressed by COMECE in its previous contribution to the “Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI”. COMECE welcomes the emphasis on the protection on “humans, sustainable growth, […] education and appropriate governance … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Press

NEWS

EU Guidelines promote a Human-centred Artificial Intelligence

COMECE welcomes the human-centric approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI) adopted in the “Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI” published by the European Commission on Tuesday 9 April 2019. In February 2019 COMECE contributed to the public consultation carried out by the EC High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence, reaffirming the primacy of the human person and promoting a right-based approach in reviewing the main principles that … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Press

NEWS

COMECE publishes reflection on “Robotisation of Life”

The quick development of new technologies based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) is leading COMECE to publish the reflection “Robotisation of Life – Ethics in view of new challenges”. The document reaffirms the primacy of the human person and promotes a right-based and person-centred approach in reviewing the main principles that define the relationship between human persons and robots. Produced by an ad-hoc working group on … Continue reading »