The European Charter for Researchers (Charter) and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Code) are documents issued by the European Commission in 2005, addressed to researchers, employers and research funders in the public and private sectors.
The Charter and the Code, complemented by the OTM-R policy, are key tools of European policy to increase the attractiveness of working conditions and career development of researchers in Europe.
The Charter and Code, through 40 general principles and requirements, ensure that researchers can enjoy the same rights and obligations in any European country.
The European Charter for Researchers lays down general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, their employers and/or grantors.
The implementation of the European Commission's recommendations and demands of the Charter and Code serves:
- to provide researchers with a sustainable system of professional development at every stage of their careers regardless of the type of contract and career path chosen,
- to encourage and recognize all types of mobility experience,
- to ensure and foster the creation of a research environment and a culture of work in which individuals and research groups are valued, motivated and supported,
- to ensure open, transparent and internationally comparable procedures for the selection and recruitment of researchers.
Ethical and professional aspects:
- Research freedom
- Ethical principles
- Professional responsibility
- Professional attitude
- Contractual and legal obligations
- Accountability
- Good practice in research
- Dissemination, exploitation of results
- Public engagement
- Non-discrimination
- Employee evaluation systems
Recruitment and selection:
- Recruitment
- Recruitment procedures
- Selection procedures
- Transparency
- Judging merit
- Variations in the chronological order of CVs
- Recognition of mobility experience
- Recognition of qualifications
- Seniority
- Post-doctoral appointments
Working conditions and social security:
- Recognition of the profession
- Research environment
- Working conditions
- Stability and permanence of employment
- Funding and salaries
- Gender balance
- Career development
- Value of mobility
- Access to career advice
- Intellectual Property Right
- Co-authorship
- Teaching
- Complaints/appeals
- Participation in decision-making bodies
Development and training:
- Relation with supervisors
- Supervision and managerial duties
- Continuation of professional development
- Access to research training and continuous development possibilities
- Supervision
The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers sets out the general principles and requirements which employers and/or grantors should comply with when appointing or recruiting researchers. The principles and requirements in question should ensure that values such as transparency of the recruitment process and equal treatment of all applicants are respected.
The Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment Policy (OTM-R) is a document supporting the implementation of the Code's requirements, particularly in such areas as providing full and transparent information on the entire recruitment and selection process, publishing job offers together with information on the required competences, obligations, and professional development opportunities, as well as ensuring that the required level of qualifications and competences is consistent with the needs of a given position rather than being a barrier to application.