Press Releases

Seventh European Forum of National Ethics Councils on 9 and 10 March in Vienna

The Seventh European Forum of National Ethics Councils is being held on 9 and 10 March in Vienna under the auspices of the Austrian Presidency. The Forum is co-organised by the European Commission and the Austrian Bioethics Commission.

The Forum of National Ethics Councils was founded as an informal platform for the exchange of information, experience, knowledge and “best practices”. The objective is to promote dialogue on biomedical and biotechnological research issues that are ethically sensitive and that have in part been addressed differently by the EU Member States. Representatives of the National Ethics Councils of the EU Member States, the European Commission and the Council of Europe are taking part in this Seventh Forum.

The main themes of the Seventh European Forum of National Ethics Councils are:

• information on  European Commission activities in the field of “Science and Society”;
• the international debate in ethics and science — differences and commonalities  (speakers from the USA and UNESCO among others have been invited);
• public relations and education in bioethics — presentation of best practices in the Member States;
• ethics and capacity building in developing countries.

The Forum is not open to the public. Admission is reserved to registered participants.

Additional information is available on the Bioethics Commission website: http://www.bka.gv.at/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4917&Alias=bka#1

Contact:
Federal Chancellery/ Bioethics Commission office
Dr Robert Gmeiner
Tel.: +43 (1) 53115 4319
http://www.bundeskanzleramt.at/bioethik