Basic Ethical Principles for Democracy in Europe

This article presents Basic Ethical Principles for Democracy in Europe. The article focusses on autonomy, dignity, integrity and vulnerability in the framework of responsibility and solidarity. Although the principles were originally applied to bioethics and biolaw, they also have significance as general principles for democracy and political community. The principles can in this perspective be considered as central to a European idea of democracy and the common good. The conclusion is that these ethical principles promote a vision of respect for human person within a legal system based on political morality. In this sense basic ethical principles are important for legislation and policy making in the European institutions and the council of Europe.