European Code of conduct for the political integrity of local and regional elected representatives

With the decentralisation of power, the quality of local governance has become decisive. Besides introducing criminal law provisions against corruption, it is essential at European level to promote ethical standards common to all local and regional elected representatives. It is a question of both reducing the risk of corruption and boosting the public's confidence in local and regional policy-makers. Any failure to comply with these standards undermines not only the credibility of local and regional elected representatives but democracy in general and thus erodes the very foundations of the rule of law.

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe took up the issue of ethical governance more than ten years ago by adopting, in 1999, the European Code of conduct for the political integrity of local and regional elected representatives.

The purpose of this code is to consolidate the relationship between citizens and local and regional policy-makers by setting out, at European level, ethical principles approved by the delegates of Europe’s local and regional elected representatives. The Congress invites national governments and national associations of local and regional authorities of the member states to detail the standards and principles established by the code in their national legislation and in ethical codes.