European Group on Ethics report assesses past work and looks to the future
A new report on the activities of the European Group on Ethics in science and new technologies (EGE) during its second mandate period (2001 to 2005) concludes that 'the advice of the EGE has been in great demand and its standing in the world of ethics has grown correspondingly'. The remit of the EGE is to advise the European Commission on all ethical questions relating to science and new technologies, either at the request of the Commission or on its own initiative. As well as reviewing the work carried out by the group over the previous mandate period, the report also provides the reflections of some of its individual members on the wider aspects of ethics in science and technology, and looks ahead to the evolution of the EGE's status and role under the next mandate. In his foreword to the report, Commission President José Manuel Barroso says: 'The EGE plays a leading role in the ethical debate at EU level and I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere congratulations and thanks to the current President and all the members of the group for the quality of the work they have done over the last four years.' Mr Barroso goes on to reveal that, 'On the basis of the ideas discussed in this report, the Commission will further strengthen the EGE so that it can respond better to the expectations of the people of Europe and ensure that the ethical aspects of science and technology are properly taken into account in all the activities of the European Commission.' In the period covered by the report, the EGE issued five full Opinions on the ethical aspects of subjects, including the patenting of inventions involving human stem cells, clinical research in developing countries, genetic testing in the workplace and information and communication technology (ICT) implants in the human body. It also produced a number of supporting and other reports, as well as updates to previous Opinions issued by the group. In terms of the impact of the group's work, statistics for 2004 show that there were over 100,000 visits to the EGE website from within the EU15 countries, and a further 28,000 visits from non-EU countries. The group is planning to improve its website under the next mandate by providing more links to the relevant EU legislation and instruments referred to in its Opinions, and extend the provision of information in French to all documents. The next mandate period sees the EGE membership increasing from the current 12 to 15, in order to include experts from the new Member States and to bring in new competencies. Thanks to the increasing pace of development in science and technology, and in order to respond effectively to the Commission's operational needs, the report predicts that in future the EGE may occasionally be required to deliver preliminary ethical advice in a shorter time than is usually required for a full Opinion. 'The real challenge for the EGE and the Commission will be to decide which [...] areas require a full ethical analysis leading to a formal Opinion and which of them only need a simpler update to a previous Opinion,' it reads. Two possible areas that the EGE could examine under its next mandate, according to the group's President Göran Hermerén, are pharmacogenomics and nanotechnologies.