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EGE

  • Welcome to the web site of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies

The EGE is an independent, pluralist and multidisciplinary body advising the European Commission on ethics in science and new technologies in connection with Community legislation or policies. The EGE members serve in a personal capacity and are asked to offer independent advice to the Commission. They have been appointed on the basis of their expertise and a geographical distribution that reflects the diversity in the European Union.

For every full Opinion to be issued by the Group, a roundtable is held before the Opinion is adopted, to which representatives of the Institutions of the European Union, experts of the fields, parties representing different interests, including NGOs, patients and consumer organisations and industrial stakeholders, are invited to participate in the debate. 

EGE Members-Composition

 

 

News

 

 

  • On the 19-20 March 2013, the EGE held its monthly meeting in Brussels. During the two-day event, a number of guest speakers from different European Commission services presented their inputs on the ethical implications of security and surveillance.

 

  • Invited speakers included:

 

  • Christoph Kautz (DG ENTR) on FP7 Security Research & Ethics of Security and Surveillance Technologies
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  • Timea Balogh (DG RTD) on FP7 Security Projects 2008-2013
  • Cecilia Verkleij (DG HOME) on the EGE Opinion on Surveillance and Security Technology- scoping and fact-finding session
  • Jean-Pierre Nordvik (JRC) on the Governance of ICT security- a perspective from the Joint Research Centre

 

  • The Agenda of the EGE meeting can be consulted here pdf - 171 KB [171 KB] .

 

 

  • On the 19-20 February 2013, the EGE held its monthly meeting in Brussels. This meeting marked the start of Opinion 28: Ethics of Security and Surveillance Technologies. The EGE Opinion will be used as a reference point to the Commission in promoting a responsible use of security and surveillance technologies and policies. Rapporteurs of the above Opinion will be: Linda Nielsen (Denmark), Siobhan O'Sullivan (Ireland), Inez de Beaufort (The Netherlands).
  • During the two-day event, the EGE also welcomed the following guest speakers:
  • Professor Jonathan Montgomery (Chair of the Nuffield Council) and Dr Peter Mills (Assistant Director) pdf - 489 KB [489 KB]   on The Nuffield Council Report on Emerging Biotechnologies  pdf - 2 MB [2 MB]
  •   Dr Anna Lönnroth (DG RTD) on Ethical Safety and Security Considerations around Funding of Gain-of-Function Research in Infectious Diseases
  • The Agenda of the February meeting can be consulted here pdf - 192 KB [192 KB] .

 

 

  • On the 15th -16th of January 2013, the EGE held its monthly meeting in Brussels. On January 16, the Group adopted its Opinion No 27: An ethical framework for assessing research, production and use of energy. The Opinion has been transmitted to President Barroso and will be presented at the European Commission Symposium on Nuclear Fission Research for a Low Carbon Economy, taking place between the 26th -27th of February 2013 in Brussels. In its Opinion, the EGE proposed an integrated ethics approach for the research, production and use of energy in the EU seeking for an equilibrium between four criteria - access rights, security of supply, safety, and sustainability - in the light of social, environmental and economic concerns.
  • Agenda pdf - 177 KB [177 KB]
  • Press Release pdf - 493 KB [493 KB]
  • Opinion 27: An ethical framework for assessing research, production and use of energy pdf - 4 MB [4 MB]

 

 

  • On the 11th- 12th of December 2012, the EGE held its 22nd meeting in Brussels. The Group worked on the finalisation of the Opinion 27.
  • Agenda pdf - 177 KB [177 KB]

 

 

  • On the 3rd of October 2012, the European Group on Ethics met the Cyprus National Bioethics Committee in Nicosia for a bilateral meeting. The afternoon session comprised an EGE working group meeting.

 

 

  • On the 4th-5th of October 2012, the European Group on Ethics together with the EU NEC Forum, gathering the Chairs of the EU 27 National Ethics Councils, met in Nicosia, Cyprus. The conjoint event was organized by the Bureau of European Policy Advisers (BEPA) and the Research Directorate General (RTD), in collaboration with the Cypriote Council Rotation Presidency. The meeting touched upon: the Horizon 2020 Programme, the function of NEC forums as dialogue platforms on science within the EU, the adopted EGE Opinion 26 on Ethics and ICT as well as the forthcoming EGE Opinion 27 on Ethics of the Energy Mix in Europe.
  • The afternoon of the 4th October and the 5th October the EGE hold its working meeting, parallel to the NEC Forum meeting.

 

 

 

  • On the 18th of September 2012, the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies will be organizing an OPEN ROUNDTABLE ON THE ENERGY MIX IN EUROPE. If you would like to take part in this event, please fill in this registration form pdf - 61 KB [61 KB] and have it sent to us, as described.

 

  • On 16th-17th of July, the EGE Secretariat organized a rapporteurs' meeting in Rome, Italy. The two days event had as a main purpuse the advancement of the Opinion's structure.   

 

  • On the 19th of June, the fourth meeting of the European Commission International Dialogue on Bioethics (IDB)took place; an event organized by the European Commission under the auspice of the Danish rotation Council Presidency. Invited participants included members of the EGE, the Chairs of 15 non-EU NECs, and the Chairs of the EU 27 NECs and representatives of international organisations. The non-European countries represented this year included: Argentina, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, The Philippines, Russia, South Africa, and COPAB (Pan-African Bioethics Congress). Representatives of the bioethics sector within UNESCO, WHO, and COHRED also held a speech. Prof. Anne Glover (Chief Scientific Adviser of the President of the European Commission),  Ms Britta Thomsen (Honourable Member of the European Parliament), Dr. Ritva Halila (University of Helsinki) delivered a keynote speech together with Dr Holst (Director Chief of Bioethics at Novo Nordisk). The President of the EGE- Prof. Julian Kinderlerer, the President of the Danish NEC- Prof. Jakob Birkler, the Vice-President of the EGE- Prof. Linda Nielsen  and CY Council Rotation Presidency representative- Dr. Michael Voniatis chaired the IDB Sessions.The topic discussed this year was 'The Governance of Large Research and Medical Databases in Clinical and Research Multi-Centre Trials', as proposed by the Chief Scientific Adviser - Prof. Anne Glover.  

 

 

 

 

 

  • On 20th-21st of March, the EGE Group started working on its new Opinion on Ethics of Energy, requested by President Barroso on 19th December 2011. The Opinion will contribute to the debate on a sustainable energy mix in Europe by studying the ethical impact of research on different energy sources on human well being. During the March meeting, the EGE met a number of keynote speakers. The EGE also had a meeting with Vice-President Kroes in order to discuss the content of its Opinion 26: Ethics of Information and Communication Technologies. Vice-President Kroes welcomed the EGE Opinion and underlined that the Commission will now take inspiration from the proposed recommendations to further foster societal and ethical considerations in the construction of the European Digital Society.  

 

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Last update: 26/04/2013 | Top