Legal Definitions - EC

The acronym EC can refer to two distinct concepts:

• 1. Ethical Consideration

  An Ethical Consideration refers to a moral principle or value that must be taken into account when making a decision, particularly in professional, legal, or policy-making contexts. It involves evaluating the rightness or wrongness of actions, the fairness of outcomes, and the responsibilities owed to others.

  • Example 1: A pharmaceutical company is developing a new drug. Before human trials begin, the research team must address the ethical consideration of informed consent, ensuring that all participants fully understand the potential risks and benefits and voluntarily agree to participate without coercion.

    Explanation: This example illustrates the need to uphold the moral principle of autonomy and protection of human subjects in medical research, which is a critical ethical consideration.

  • Example 2: A city council is debating whether to approve a new housing development that would require clearing a significant portion of a local forest. They must weigh the ethical consideration of environmental preservation and the impact on local wildlife against the need for affordable housing.

    Explanation: Here, the council faces a dilemma between two competing values: environmental stewardship and social welfare, both of which are significant ethical considerations in public policy.

  • Example 3: A journalist receives confidential information about a public figure that could harm their reputation but is also of significant public interest. The journalist must grapple with the ethical consideration of protecting their source's anonymity versus their duty to inform the public, and the potential for invasion of privacy.

    Explanation: This scenario highlights the ethical balance between journalistic duties, privacy rights, and the potential consequences of publishing sensitive information.

• 2. European Community

  The European Community (EC) was a key pillar of the European Union (EU) before the EU's legal framework was consolidated. It primarily focused on economic integration, establishing a common market among its member states where goods, services, capital, and people could move freely without internal borders or tariffs. The EC's functions were later absorbed into the broader structure of the European Union.

  • Example 1: A Portuguese wine producer could easily export their products to consumers in France or Germany without facing additional customs duties or complex border checks, thanks to the common market established by the European Community.

    Explanation: This demonstrates the free movement of goods, a core principle of the EC, which aimed to eliminate trade barriers between member states.

  • Example 2: An Italian architect could move to Belgium to work on a new construction project without needing a separate work permit, benefiting from the right to free movement of workers within the European Community.

    Explanation: This illustrates the free movement of people and labor, allowing citizens of member states to live and work in any other member state without significant bureaucratic hurdles.

  • Example 3: A company manufacturing toys in Ireland had to ensure its products met a single set of safety standards that were recognized across all member countries, rather than adapting to different national regulations for each market within the European Community.

    Explanation: This highlights the harmonization of regulations and standards, a key aspect of the EC's efforts to create a unified economic area and facilitate the free movement of goods and services.