Tasks and responsibilities

The Committee on the Danish Council of Ethics’ responsibilities is laid down in pursuance of Section 7(1) of the Act on the Danish Council of Ethics.

The committee has three primary responsibilities:

• The committee nominates nine members of the Danish Council of Ethics and recommends one of these to take the chair
• The committee consistently monitors the work of the Danish Council of Ethics at joint meetings, etc.
• The committee may ask the Danish Council of Ethics to process specific topics within the council’s remit

An individual nominated by the committee may not be a member of the Danish Parliament or a municipal or regional councillor.

The committee normally meets with the Danish Council of Ethics once a year. At this meeting, the Chair of the Danish Council of Ethics informs the meeting of the work of the council, and the council and committee discuss ideas and topics for the council’s future work.

The committee also meets the council where the council informs the committee of its statements and reports prior to their publication.

The Danish Council of Ethics

The Danish Council of Ethics has 17 members. The members are nominated as follows:

• Nine are nominated by the Committee on the Danish Council of Ethics
• Eight are nominated by four ministers (the Minister of Health, the Minister for Environment and Food, the Minister for Higher Education and Science, and the Industry Minister).

Members of the Danish Council of Ethics are nominated for a period of three years and may retain their seat for no more than six years, i.e. for two periods.