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, 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 »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE calls for EU family-friendly policies

Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ, President of COMECE, called on EU politicians to promote family-friendly policies during the FAFCE-organised conference “The Family: ecosystem for cultural life in Europe” held at the European Parliament on 6 November 2018. “The family is a place of trust and a source of solidarity – stated Mgr. Hollerich SJ. It is the environment where we are growing up, discovering our strengths … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

Road Safety, COMECE launches video campaign

On the occasion of the European Day Without A Road Death, Catholic bishops launch a video campaign promoting responsibility on the road in order to reduce the number of accidents in the EU. More than 30,000 people lost their lives on European roads in 2017. Another estimated 100,000 people were seriously injured. These numbers tend to repeat every year, transforming our roads in battle fields … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

NEWS

COMECE contribution to the public consultation of Digital Ethics

COMECE contributed to the public consultation on Digital Ethics launched by the European Data Protection Supervisor in order to understand how new technologies are shaping our life and which elements are needed to regulate new technological developments. Engaged to the social teaching of the Church, in its contribution COMECE underlined the unlimited equal value of each human life and pointed out the need for a … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Press

NEWS

A global responsibility to protect human life?

COMECE took part in the workshop “Equal beginnings, but then? A global responsibility” organised in the Vatican on 25-26 June by the Pontifical Academy for Life within the context of its annual assembly. On the theological bases given by an analysis of the content-related developments from the encyclicals “Evangelium Vitae” and “Laudato Si”, participants from all over the world engaged into a dialogue to shed … Continue reading »