Next Thursday, May 28, experts and political and civic leaders will gather in Paris to take part in an international debate on the protection of life in the face of ongoing efforts to legalize euthanasia. The event is organized by Political Network for Values, the European Centre for Law and Justice, La Bourse Tocqueville, and the Christian Lawyers Foundation.

The event, entitled “Protecting Dignity at the End of Life: Stop Euthanasia in Europe,” will take place at the Maison de l’Argentine in Paris and will address the ethical, legal, and political challenges posed by the advance of euthanasia in Europe, especially at a time when France is debating its possible legalization.

When the State offers death to those who suffer instead of care and companionship, is it remaining faithful to its purpose or betraying it? Is it truly appropriate for public authorities to discard, rather than protect, the most fragile and vulnerable? Is it right to legalize a practice that undermines human dignity? These and other questions will shape the discussion.

Speakers will include:

• Laurence Trochu, Member of the European Parliament;
• Gregor Puppinck, President of the European Centre for Law and Justice;
• Polonia Castellanos, President of the Christian Lawyers Foundation, of Spain, involved in the legal defense of the Noelia Castillo case;
• Lola Velarde, Executive Director of Political Network for Values.

France: An Open Debate

Currently, euthanasia and assisted suicide remain illegal in France. The current legal framework is based on the 2016 Claeys-Leonetti Law, which allows the withdrawal of disproportionate treatment and deep continuous sedation in certain terminal cases, but prohibits deliberately causing a patient’s death.

However, since 2022, President Emmanuel Macron has promoted a reform to legalize euthanasia and, in 2025, the French National Assembly approved on first reading a bill aimed at allowing it. Nevertheless, the legislative process has not yet been completed, and the French Senate has expressed strong reservations regarding key aspects of the proposal. The current status of the bill will be discussed during the event.

The Noelia Case and Concern for the Most Vulnerable

The meeting will also address the case of Noelia Castillo, a young Spanish woman in a situation of physical and psychiatric vulnerability whose euthanasia was authorized by a physician responsible for organ transplants. According to various legal and bioethics experts, this case has highlighted the ethical and legal tensions accompanying the expansion of euthanasia laws in Europe.

According to the organizers, the goal of the event is to contribute to the articulation of public responses centered on human dignity, the protection of fundamental freedoms, and the defense of the most vulnerable.

If you would like to participate or receive further information, please write to: [email protected]

Or send a WhatsApp message to: +55 31 9 99456 1430.