Doc. 11886

30 April 2009

The ethics of science

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mrs de Melo and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

Recent advancements in science highlight the concern that unbridled scientific progress is not always universally acceptable from an ethical point of view.

We have acquired the potential to alter the very basis of human life and its modes of transmission through genetics and reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilisation, designing progeny through genetic manipulation, cloning or using ova of aborted foetuses.

Other areas of research which may raise ethical issues are for instance xenotransplantation, human/animal hybrid embryos, stem cell research or euthanasia.

The Council of Europe Bioethics convention and its protocols deal with many of these issues. National ethics committees play an important role at national level.

Other areas of science not directly linked to the living human body may also have ethical implications. This is the case, for instance, of GMOs, the re-creation by cloning of extinct animal species and other technologies that may have an impact on the environment but also archaeology when it involves human remains.

The need to establish benchmarks and to promote ethical principles and standards to guide scientific progress is becoming increasingly acute. Religion no longer provides the frame within which ethical choices can be made.

The Parliamentary Assembly is the most appropriate body within the European institutional architecture to debate the foundations for tomorrow’s society, including in this domain.

Therefore it should investigate the ethical criteria on which legislation or other regulations about the ethics of science should be based.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed 1:

de MELO Maria Manuela, Portugal, SOC

ANGHEL Florin Serghei, Romania, EPP/CD

ARNAUT José Luís, Portugal, EPP/CD

BERGAMINI Deborah, Italy, EPP/CD

BILOZIR Oksana, Ukraine, EPP/CD

BOLDI Rossana, Italy, EDG

DEBONO GRECH Joseph, Malta, SOC

DUESUND Åse Gunhild Woie, Norway, EPP/CD

DZEMBRITZKI Detlef, Germany, SOC

FARINA Gianni, Italy, SOC

FLEGO Gvozden Srećko, Croatia, SOC

FREIRE ANTUNES José, Portugal, EPP/CD

GAJDŮŠKOVÁ Alena, Czech Republic, SOC

GAUTIER Gisèle, France, EPP/CD

KAŹMIERCZAK Jan, Poland, EPP/CD

KOROBEYNIKOV Anatoliy, Russian Federation, EDG

KOVÁCS Elvira, Serbia, EPP/CD

KUMCUOĞLU Ertuğrul, Turkey, EDG

MALINS Humfrey, United Kingdom, EDG

MARLAND-MILITELLO Muriel, France, EPP/CD

MUTTONEN Christine, Austria, SOC

O'HARA Edward, United Kingdom, SOC

POSTANJYAN Zaruhi, Armenia, NR

ROBU Nicolae, Romania, ALDE

RUGĀTE Anta, Latvia, EPP/CD

STUMP Doris, Switzerland, SOC

TEKELİOĞLU Mehmet, Turkey, EPP/CD

WODARG Wolfgang, Germany, SOC

1        EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      SOC: Socialist Group

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group