Joint statement between the EGE and Smer

The EGE and Smer jointly emphasise the following:

We highlight that – especially in times of rapid technological change – ethics councils and committees remain of crucial importance for societies. One of their key roles is to provide ethical analysis, especially in the context of governance and policy-making, in relation to the development of our societies in general and the technological advances in society, medicine and healthcare, notably.

We recognise that the pandemic, climate change, wars and natural disasters have challenged society and broadened the range of what we consider (bio)ethical questions. We call for efforts from all parts of society to stand up for human rights and democratic values to confront the challenges we are facing today.

We also recognise the potential impacts of AI technologies and digital platforms on society. We strongly urge governments, authorities and other stakeholders to safeguard individual privacy and autonomy, and enhance the value that digital technology use creates for people and societies, rather than merely for companies. In this context, we welcome the ongoing efforts of governments and other stakeholders in the EU to introduce ethical considerations into the core of any future discussion and development of governance of AI and digitalisation – in health care and society as a whole.

We call for an increased effort towards the creation of inclusive digital public spaces that support respectful exchange and dialogue, as well as for stronger legal measures against the spread of mis- and disinformation.

We strongly emphasise the importance of maintaining cooperation between ethics councils in different countries and on the European and global level. The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies and the Swedish National Council on Medical Ethics are committed to such collaboration in the future.