MEPs vote for EU-wide robotics rules
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted yesterday (16 February) for a resolution calling for EU-wide rules on robotics. The MEPS said that there is a need for rules to enforce ethical standards and establish liability for accidents involving driverless vehicles.
According to a statement published on the EU’s Europa website yesterday: “MEPs stress that draft legislation is urgently needed to clarify liability issues, especially for self-driving cars. They call for a mandatory insurance scheme and a supplementary fund to ensure that victims of accidents involving driverless cars are fully compensated.
“MEPs also ask the Commission to consider creating a specific legal status for robots in the long run, in order to establish who is liable if they cause damage.
“The rapid development of robots might result in changes in the labour market through the creation, displacement and loss of certain jobs. MEPs urge the Commission to follow these trends closely.”
EU Rapporteur Mady Delvaux, who authored the report that provide a reference point for the MEPs’ debate, felt that yesterday’s session failed to fully address robotics’ potential impact on jobs.
“Although I am pleased that the plenary adopted my report on robotics, I am also disappointed that the right-wing coalition of ALDE, EPP and ECR refused to take account of possible negative consequences on the job market,” said Delvaux. “They rejected an open-minded and forward-looking debate and thus disregarded the concerns of our citizens.”
