Regulatory context
On March 11th, 2005, the European Commission adopted a Recommendation concerning the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, with the aim of providing Member States with a reference framework to promote sustainable research careers and attractive working conditions for researchers.
In December 2023, the Council of the European Union adopted the new European Charter for Researchers (Annex II to Council Recommendation C/2023/1640), which replaces the 2005 Charter and Code. The new Charter sets out an updated set of principles and responsibilities addressed to researchers, employers, funders and policymakers, with the objective of supporting excellence in research and increasing the attractiveness of research careers within the European Research Area. It is structured around 20 key principles grouped into four strategic areas:
- Ethics, integrity, gender and open science;
- Researchers’ assessment, recruitment and progression;
- Working conditions and practices;
- Research careers and talent development.
In line with the political objectives of the new Charter, Member States and institutions are encouraged to develop and implement appropriate strategies to make the European labour market for researchers more open, attractive, sustainable and competitive, promoting talent circulation, high-quality working conditions and research integrity.