Ethics practice within the European Union (EU) is integral to fostering trust, transparency, and accountability across its institutions. With a complex, multi-layered governance system, the EU continually evolves its ethical frameworks to prevent corruption, enhance cooperation, and align standards across member bodies.
The EU governs some of the world’s most significant economic and regulatory policies influencing millions of citizens. Ensuring ethical conduct within its institutions is paramount to upholding legitimacy and meeting citizens’ expectations for transparency and responsibility. On 15 May 2024, a milestone was reached when eight major EU institutions signed an agreement to establish the Interinstitutional Ethics Body, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at harmonizing ethical standards and preventing misconduct such as corruption scandals exemplified by Qatargate.
This development highlights the EU’s commitment to embedding a culture of ethics and integrity, defining clear conduct standards, and fostering cooperation between member institutions. Understanding the structure, tasks, and principles of this framework is essential for appreciating how ethics practice functions at this supranational level.
Parties to the EU Ethics Agreement
The Ethics Agreement binds eight key entities:
- European Parliament
- Council of the European Union
- European Commission
- Court of Justice of the European Union
- European Central Bank
- European Court of Auditors
- European Economic and Social Committee
- European Committee of the Regions
The European Investment Bank also holds the option of joining the agreement.
While this agreement frames obligatory standards for the above parties, other EU agencies or bodies may voluntarily apply the ethics standards to staff members holding equivalent roles. Notably, the European Council and member states’ representatives within the Council are excluded due to legal and treaty constraints, but member states may publicly disclose their ethical frameworks during their presidency terms to promote transparency.
The Structure of the Interinstitutional Ethics Body
The Ethics Body’s organizational design ensures representative leadership and expert guidance:
- Each party appoints one senior member to participate.
- The chairmanship rotates annually among the participating institutions.
- A panel of five independent ethics experts supports the body’s work and provides confidential, non-binding advice on declarations of interest or ethical queries.
This structure enables balanced representation and fosters expert consultations to maintain ethical oversight while respecting institutional autonomy.
Tasks and Powers of the EU Ethics Body
The Ethics Body undertakes several essential responsibilities aimed at cultivating a shared culture of ethics and transparency:
- Developing and Updating Common Minimum Standards: These regulations cover declarations of financial and non-financial interests, permitted external activities during office terms, rules around gifts and awards, and other conduct provisions.
- Facilitating Exchange of Best Practices: The Body holds discussions based on self-assessments conducted within each party, enabling continuous alignment and improvement
- Issuance of Abstract Interpretations: Offering guidelines to standardize understanding and application of the ethics rules.
- Promoting Interinstitutional and International Cooperation: Partnering with relevant national, European, and global entities for comprehensive ethical governance.
- Publishing an Annual Report: Ensuring transparency about the Body’s work, achievements, and ethical trends across the EU institutions.
A strategic decision confines the Body’s role in individual case management; it cannot impose sanctions but can offer advisory opinions when consulted by parties.
The Importance of Ethics in EU Governance
Ethics practice in the EU guarantees that elected officials, Commissioners, judges, and other officials uphold the principles of impartiality, probity, and public trust. The interinstitutional agreement reflects recognition that fragmented ethics codes hinder consistent standards. By fostering a culture of integrity anchored in clarity and oversight, the EU aims to enhance democratic legitimacy and rid governance of malpractice.
Recent corruption scandals have heightened awareness and urgency to strengthen ethical frameworks. The Ethics Body hopes to prevent future breaches through proactive, shared standards and transparency.
Guiding Principles Underpinning EU Ethics
The ethics code and related frameworks emphasize:
- Respect for human dignity and fundamental rights
- Commitment to transparency and avoidance of conflicts of interest
- Accountability to citizens
- Equal treatment and non-discrimination
- Respect for privacy and personal data protection
- Environmental and social responsibility aligned with EU values
These principles harmonize with broader EU commitments outlined in treaties and policy documents, embedding ethics within the Union’s operational culture.
Historical Development and Challenges
Ethical governance discussions within the EU have evolved since 2019, with various institutions pushing for a unified ethics body to address gaps and inconsistencies.
The European Court of Auditors initially called for enhanced interinstitutional ethics frameworks, and the European Parliament advocated for stronger powers for the ethics body. However, some criticism emerged regarding the Body’s limited enforcement powers, with concerns about its capacity to address systemic loopholes.
Despite critiques labeling it as “an ethics body in name only,” the agreement marks significant progress toward unified standards in a complex political union.
Complementary Ethics Initiatives Across the EU
Beyond the interinstitutional Ethics Body, the EU upholds ethics via:
- The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, setting standards for EU-funded scientific projects.
- Ethical appraisal schemes under Horizon Europe, emphasizing compliance with human rights, environmental protection, and nondiscrimination.
- Transparency policies within the European Commission promoting open access to information, consultations, and stakeholder engagements.
- Service standards emphasizing ethical conduct, good administration, and respect for EU values across Commission departments.
Together, these mechanisms create a multifaceted approach to ethics, spanning policy, research, administration, and parliamentary conduct.
The Road Ahead: Ethics Practice in the EU Moving Forward
The creation of the interinstitutional Ethics Body embodies a foundational step, establishing cooperation among major EU institutions and setting common minimum standards. However, ongoing efforts are needed to strengthen powers, implement more robust monitoring, and enhance public engagement.
As the EU faces evolving challenges from digital ethics to sustainability, transparency, and political accountability the ethics framework will need adaptive enforcement, effective sanctions, and broad-based support to sustain citizens’ confidence.
Ethics practice in the European Union represents a critical pillar supporting democratic governance, legitimacy, and trust. The establishment of the Interinstitutional Ethics Body marks a landmark development in harmonizing ethical standards among EU institutions while fostering a culture of integrity and transparency.
This evolving framework, grounded in core principles of accountability, fairness, and respect for fundamental rights, reinforces the EU’s commitment to good governance. While challenges remain, and enforcement powers are limited, the EU’s ethics practice sets a precedent for supranational cooperation and integrity that other global organizations might emulate.
Citizens, policymakers, and stakeholders alike can rely on a progressively unified ethics system designed to elevate trust and maintain the Union’s democratic foundation.
