Safeguarding Research Integrity in Europe: An Object of Increasing Legal Attention

Abstract

This chapter considers the implications of the lack of uniformity, consistency and harmonisation in defining and regulating research integrity across Europe. In view of this, recent initiatives of the Council of Research Ministers and of the European Commission aim to provide a common point of reference in institutional terms and legal terms. However researchers and institutions themselves remain ultimately responsible for detecting, investigating and adjudicating any allegations of scientific misconduct through their established procedures. Therefore, a complementary approach between the Commission’s initiatives and the self-regulatory approach of local/national structures is desirable. A major step towards this direction could be the formulation of a single European-wide definition of research integrity.

Citation

Kritikos, M. (2017), "Safeguarding Research Integrity in Europe: An Object of Increasing Legal Attention", Finding Common Ground: Consensus in Research Ethics Across the Social Sciences (Advances in Research Ethics and Integrity, Vol. 1), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 199-210. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2398-601820170000001016