The European Charter & Code for Researchers
In 2005, the European Commission adopted a European Charter for Researchers and a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. These two documents, addressed to researchers as well as research employers and funders in both the public and private sectors, are key elements in the EU's policy to boost researchers' careers.
A proposed Council Recommendation introduces a new Charter for Researchers, addressed to researchers, employers, funders and policy makers. This is an evolution of the previous (2005) European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.
The new Charter builds on the above, with updated principles and a streamlined structure. It is addressed to researchers as well as research employers and funders in the public and private sectors. It will be a key instrument of EU's policy to boost attractive researchers' careers and it will facilitate implementation by research performing and research funding organisations, fostering good working conditions for researchers at all career stages.
In Austria
Promotion of the "European Charter for Researchers" & "Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers" and broad implementation of their principles at Austrian universities has been part of the performance agreements with universities since 2010. In Austria 45 institutions including universities, funding organisations, enterprises, research organisations, universities of applied sciences, a private university, umbrella organisations and the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research have signed the "Charter & Code".