Code of Conduct
EPIS follows a Code of Conduct based on three core principles that define how we work together. They apply to every EPIS Fellow and are designed to ensure both maximum freedom for individuals and a respectful, productive working environment for all.
Integrity
EPIS is politically, economically, and ideologically independent. All publications reflect individual research and are fact-based and neutral. Fellows are free to hold and express their own views; the organisation takes no collective position. Freedom of expression is actively protected within the bounds of human rights principles.
Reliability
EPIS operates on a voluntary basis — which makes individual accountability more important, not less. Fellows are expected to be efficient, goal-oriented, and reliable: to meet commitments, communicate transparently about capacity, and ensure that colleagues and group leaders can depend on them.
Collegiality
EPIS cultivates an environment of mutual respect and genuine understanding among Fellows. We value exchange across cultural, academic, political, and geographical differences. Divergent perspectives are treated as assets, not obstacles — provided the exchange remains respectful and substantive.
Independent by design
EPIS's independence is not incidental — it is structural. The organisation has no affiliation with any political party, government body, or commercial interest. Research outputs reflect the views of their individual authors and are subject to peer review; they do not represent an institutional position.
This independence is what gives EPIS Publications their credibility. Fellows are encouraged to take strong analytical positions — what is required is that those positions are evidence-based, transparently argued, and free from external influence.
Questions and concerns
The Code of Conduct is overseen by the Director for Internal Affairs who serves as the primary point of contact for all matters relating to Fellow welfare, internal procedures, and conduct questions.
In addition to this Code, EPIS maintains a comprehensive Guideline document that provides further detail on operational standards, working group procedures, and publication expectations. All Fellows are encouraged to read both documents at the start of their membership.
A community built on integrity, reliability, and mutual respect.
Every EPIS Fellow commits to these three principles. They protect both the individual and the collective — and they are what make EPIS research worth reading.