Consider the European framework for equality

Julia Trattnig | 29 September 2021

This section offers an overview of the European framework for equality: It focuses on recent strategic documents and programmes, mainly addressing scientific contexts such as the European Charter for Researchers.

“A Union of Equality”

The European Commission aims to achieve “a Union of equality” (EC, 2020c) through a Task Force on equality, as well as a dedicated portfolio which focuses on the areas of gender and LGBTIQ equality, anti-racism, support for Roma in equality, inclusion and participation. Equality will thus be ensured with different mechanisms, policies and actions to change structural and intersectional discrimination and societal stereotypes.

EC Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025

The Gender Equality Strategy for 2020-2025 (EC, 2020a) was the first strategy paper of the “Union of equality” approach, focusing on equality for women and men, in all their diversity, to freely pursue their chosen path in life and to thrive in society and the economy.

The strategy tackles several key areas, among others to challenge gender stereotypes and achieve gender balance in decision-making and in politics. To ensure such equality for representation and decision-making is an integral part of governance. In the field of Research & Innovation, the Horizon Europe programme foresees some special commitments with regards to gender equality (see “Horizon Europe”).

EU Anti-Racism Action Plan 2020-2025

The EU Anti-Racism Action Plan (EC, 2020d) is also part of the “Union of equality” approach of the EU and aims at tackling racism and racial discrimination across society on various levels, among others in legal framework, data collection, a Diversity and Inclusion Office within the Commission as well as a more diverse staff to improve representativeness.

These are essential EDI aspects in governance and the framework of the EC. The need for detailed data collection, as stated in the EU Anti-Racism Plan, also shows the importance of disaggregated data collection, which might also be relevant for data collection and use on infrastructures such as EBRAINS.

Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe (EC, 2021) is the new Research & Innovation funding programme of the EC until 2027. It is built upon three pillars: excellent science, global challenges and European industrial competitiveness and innovative Europe. With regards to gender equality, it foresees a strengthened commitment and tackles gender equality as crosscutting issue.

Therefore, the integration of gender into research & innovation content becomes a requirement by default. Examples for how to integrate these dimensions are offered in the Gendered Innovations II (EC, 2020e) policy report. Moreover, from 2022 onwards, all organisations and institutions which apply for funding need to have a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) (see “Set up Gender Equality Plans”) in place.

Both these requirements aim at creating structural change for a better gender equality.

The European Charter & Code for Researchers

The EC adopted a Charter for Researchers and a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (EC, 2005) in 2005 and since then, 1,280 organisations have endorsed these two documents.

The Charter consists of a set of general principles and requirements to specify roles and responsibilities of researchers and funders of research and can thus be understood as a framework for the working environment of researchers at all stages of their career. It addresses points such as research freedom, good practice in research, public engagement, accountability, etc.

The Code of Conduct complements the Charter with regards to selection procedures.

The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity

The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (ALLEA, 2017) was developed in 2017 by All European Academies (ALLEA), which consist of more than 50 academies from over 40 countries in the Council of Europe region.
The aim is to ensure joint values and principles for regulating research. These are based on the following fundamental principles of research integrity:

• reliability
• honesty
• respect
• and accountability.

The code of conduct touches furthermore on important aspects for the research community such as publication and dissemination, reviewing and evaluating, collaborative working, etc.

The European Charter for Access to Research Infrastructure

The Charter (EC, 2016) states that:

“Research Infrastructures should have a policy defining how they regulate, grant and support access to (potential) users from academia, business, industry and public services.”

The Charter is relevant

[…] “for providing access in order to conduct research, to undertake experimental development, to provide education and training and to deliver services.” Thereby, infrastructures “shall not discriminate on any personal grounds and may consider establishing equal opportunities policies.”
(EC, 2016: 10).