06/09/2013
COMECE Opinion on the regulation of medical devices, and of in vitro diagnostic medical devices in particular (EN)
Category Archives: Policy Areas
News
COMECE’s Opinion on Medical Devices: Not safe enough
In an Opinion published today, the COMECE Reflection Group on Bioethics, while welcoming the ongoing revision of European legislation on Medical Devices, warns against some ethical shortcomings and proposes improvements to Proposals which will be voted in the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee of the European Parliament on 18 September. There are currently around half a million medical devices (MDs) on the market … Continue reading
News
Youth Policies, Education and unemployment. The young claim: ‘we are the solution !’
Young people have great expectations where the EU decisions makers are concerned, especially after the promises of the 28 EU Heads of States to put together an EU youth employment package. But is this a reliable long term solution to youth unemployment? Young people want the EU to tackle unemployment and education not FOR them but WITH them because they see themselves as the solution … Continue reading
14/08/2013
International Perspectives on Religious Freedom (EN)
News
Religious Freedom Guidelines: a welcome step forward
Press 25/06/2013: COMECE welcomes the adoption today by the Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers of the EU of New “EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief“. This new instrument provides the staff in the EEAS (External Action service), EU Delegations, Representations and Embassies with an operational set of tools to be used in relations with third-countries. It is designed … Continue reading
News
European Citizenship: we need a sense of belonging to a community
EU citizenship is an issue central to our European identity and promises to feature prominently in the debates preceding the 2014 European Parliamentary elections. In the context of the European Year of Citizens 2013, the EU Commission has sought the views of the Churches on this theme in the frame of the Dialogue Seminar on 20 June. From the perspective of the EU Commission, Ms … Continue reading
News
Towards active involvement: the spiritual dimension of European citizenship
This year’s annual EU high-level meeting of religious leaders took place on 30 May at the Commission’s headquarters in Brussels, under the motto ‘Putting citizens at the heart of Europe in times of change’. The meeting was hosted by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and co-chaired by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, and László Surján, Vice-President of the European … Continue reading
17/05/2013
Ethical assessment of clinical trials on medicinal products – Respect and protection of vulnerable persons and populations (EN)
News
Clinical trials on medicinal products for human use in the EU: A sound ethical framework is essential
Clinical trials are necessary before any new medicine is put on the market. However, many people who are unable to give consent as well as people from less-developed countries often participate in such trials. So how can we better protect these people and vulnerable populations against abuse? The European Commission has proposed a regulation which will be submitted to a vote of the European Parliament … Continue reading
Press Release
Europe Needs a Social Dimension –Church Leaders Tell Irish EU Presidency – Joint Irish Council of Churches-CEC-COMECE Press release
European economic governance needs to be balanced by a social dimension, according to Churches in Europe. At a meeting with the Irish EU Presidency in Dublin this morning (Friday March 8), they questioned the sense in discussing economic austerity without including measures for social cohesion. Efforts aimed at the eradication of structural poverty and inequality should all be considered when measuring economic progress, they maintained. … Continue reading