Terms of reference

Following the Federal Government's decision of 2 May 2001, the National Ethics Council was inaugurated on 8 June 2001 as a national forum for dialogue on ethical issues in the life sciences. It is intended to be the central organ for interdisciplinary discourse between the natural sciences, medicine, theology and philosophy, and the social and legal sciences, and to express views on ethical issues relating to new developments in the field of the life sciences and on their consequences for the individual and society. The National Ethics Council has up to 25 members, who represent the scientific, medical, theological, philosophical, social, legal, ecological and economic worlds and are appointed for a four-year term by the Federal Chancellor. As a rule the members hold monthly meetings in Berlin.

The National Ethics Council is independent and bound solely by the terms of reference laid down in its founding decree. It determines its own work programme and procedures.

Opinions, recommendations and reports drawn up by the National Ethics Council on a variety of topics are published. The members of the Council set particular store by work among and with the public.

The National Ethics Council will work together with other bodies concerned with ethics in Germany and with comparable institutions of other States and of international organizations.

The General Secretariat of the National Ethics Council is located in the premises of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences. The costs of the National Ethics Council and its General Secretariat are borne by the Federal Government.

(back to the top)