In December 2023, the Council of the European Union approved a recommendation establishing a European framework to boost the attraction and retention of research, innovation and entrepreneurship talent in Europe. This framework includes the new European Charter for Researchers, which replaces the 2005 Charter and Code. While these measures are suggestions by the European Commission, their adoption and compliance by Member Countries is voluntary.
The 2023 Charter unifies the principles and requirements of the 2005 documents into a single text. This new framework defines both the rights and responsibilities of researchers and the institutions that fund and manage research projects. It also underlines the importance of fair, open and merit-based selection processes.
The new European Charter for Researchers 2023 brings together the commitments of researchers, employers, funders and policy makers, structuring them around 20 key principles organised into four main pillars:
- Pillar 1: Ethics, Integrity, Gender Equality and Open Science;
- Pillar 2: Evaluation, Recruitment and Research Career Development;
- Pillar 3: Working Conditions and Working Practices;
- Pillar 4: Scientific Careers and Talent Promotion.
