Brussels, 01/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - To consolidate the efforts made to ensure the excellence of research in Europe that is both honest and reliable, ministers pledged on Tuesday 1 December, the second day of the Competitiveness Council, to put in place practices and institutional rules, both across the EU and nationally, and appropriate training to create a healthy research environment.
Ministers are of the view that research should abide by the eight principles set out in the European code of conduct for research integrity drafted by the European Science Foundation (ESF) and the European Federation of National Academies of Sciences and Humanities (ALLEA): honesty in communication, reliability in performing research, objectivity, impartiality and independence, openness and accessibility, duty of care, fairness in providing references and giving credit, and responsibility for the scientists and researchers of the future.
Research and Innovation Commissioner Carlos Moedas said that, in concert with all stakeholders, he hoped to update the code of conduct so that it takes account of the digitisation of research activities and also ensures that advancement for researchers in their careers does not depend solely on their publication record but also on research practice. He said that he wanted to strengthen Article 34 of the Horizon 2020 programme which deals with ethics in research and innovation.
As a consequence, the member states want to increase their collaboration with the Commission, in conjunction with the European Research Area and Innovation Committee (ERAC), which advises the Council, the Commission and the member states on research issues relevant to the development of the European research area and the Horizon 2020 programme. In addition, they plan to toughen prevention of dishonest behaviour by putting in place integrity training as part of teaching, including at doctorate level and in life-long learning.
Ministers also pledge, in conjunction with research donors and the scientific community, collectively to give consideration to mechanisms that may encourage scientific fraud to the detriment of research quality and to draft guidelines to address any shortcomings.
The draft conclusions were agreed at the meeting of the committee of permanent representatives (Coreper) on 20 November. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)