Summary
This Code of Ethics was developed by the international consortium of the Civic Incubator (CERV) project to support grassroots civil society groups and informal civic initiatives across Europe. Its purpose is to strengthen democratic participation, promote fundamental EU values, and help informal groups build ethical, transparent, and responsible organisational cultures.
The Code provides guidance for informal groups on how to organise their internal operations, educate members, ensure accountability, and protect whistleblowers. It outlines clear procedures for informing stakeholders, providing ethics training, reviewing internal policies, appointing responsible persons or committees, and handling violations safely and fairly.
At its core, the Code is built on five key ethical principles essential for civic work:
- Responsibility
- Creativity
- Respect for Fundamental Rights
- Trust
- Commitment to Community and the Common Good
Additional ethical standards include non-discrimination and inclusion, safeguarding and “do no harm,” data protection (GDPR), and environmental responsibility.
Annex I provides rules for confidential, fair, and timely investigation of ethics reports, ensuring protection for whistleblowers and clear procedures for responding to misconduct.
For more information, you can download the full report here.