Service standards and principles

There are several principles that guide the Commission in its work: transparency, ethical behaviour, equal opportunities, multilingualism, as well as digital transformation and the environment impact. 

Transparency

As transparency is a key EU principle, the European Commission ensures that citizens, stakeholders, and all parties concerned can access relevant, up-to-date data and information. The Commission publishes information about, for example, consultations, registers of interest, the work of committees and expert groups, as well as details about the EU funding beneficiaries. Transparency helps maintain European citizens’ trust in the legitimacy of the Union’s political, legislative, and administrative processes.

Transparency

Ethics and good administration 

Both Commissioners and Commission staff have a duty to serve the public interest. Both operate within a framework of principles and rules that govern their conduct regarding ethics and integrity. 

The Commission is committed to ensuring good administration in its relations with the public. It strives to put the citizens’ right to good administration into practice and to avoid any instance of maladministration.

Commissioners and ethics

Staff and ethics

Good administration 

Complaints procedure

A modern workplace

The Commission’s human resources strategy presents a vision for a modern and flexible organisation, performing at the highest level in the interest of all Europeans. It offers fulfilling careers to top talents from all EU countries. 

With its Digital Strategy, the Commission has set up the framework for continuous digital transformation. It promotes a vision of a digital Commission that engages and connects people, data, processes and technology. 

The Commission is determined to be a front-runner in the transition towards a climate neutral society, by setting out an ambitious and realistic plan to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. It made a pledge under the European Climate Pact and committed to gradually reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 60% compared to 2005. 

People first – modernising the European Commission  

Digitalising the Commission  

Greening the Commission  

Multilingualism in the Commission

The languages spoken in the EU countries are an essential part of Europe’s cultural heritage. The EU therefore supports multilingualism in its programmes and in the work of its institutions. 

The Commission’s use of languages