• European Charter for Researchers

    Date posted:

    • Post Author

      espadmin

The European Commission has recently adopted a European Charter for Researchers and a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, which you can be downloaded from the MNM site. These two documents are key elements in the EU’s policy to make research a more attractive career. They are intended to contribute to the development of an attractive, open and sustainable European labour market for scientists, where conditions are conducive to high performance and productivity.

Both the Charter and the Code of conduct take the form of recommendations from the Commission to the Member States, which they are invited to implement on a voluntary basis.

The European Charter for Researchers is described by the Commission as ‘a set of general principles and requirements which specifies the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers as well as of employers and/or funders of researchers’. The general principles and requirements applicable to researchers range from research ethics and professional responsibility to accountability, good practice, dissemination of results, public engagement and continuation of professional development. Employers and funders, meanwhile, are asked to recognise researchers as professionals and to treat them accordingly. The charter also requests that employers ensure the creation of a stimulating research or research training environment, offering appropriate equipment, facilities and opportunities.

The Member States are invited to report back to the Commission before the end of the year on any additional measures that they have taken in the area of researcher careers, and will also relay the initial results from the application of the recommendations.

I hope that you will be able, whenever appropriate, to apply and make known this Charter and the Code of conduct.