How EUFIC stays independent

Several mechanisms ensure that our activities remain impartial, evidence-based, and focused on the public good.

1) Topic Selection:

Our team proposes topics based on scientific relevance, their importance to public health, and the state of the public debate. Our broad membership is invited to suggest further topics they see as important for public health. The EUFIC team considers the relevance of those suggestions and takes a final decision.

The communication priorities are submitted to the General Assembly for approval after discussion with the Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board.

2) Evidence-based approach to our activities:

Our information materials are based on research evidence supported by the wider scientific community.

All our messages and articles undergo rigorous review by the Scientific Advisory Board or relevant scientific experts from our EU projects and other networks.

We conduct consumer research to the highest scientific standards to understand public perceptions, preferences, knowledge, and behaviour.

3) An impartial governance:

We have implemented a variety of measures to safeguard the integrity of our governance and decision-making processes, ensuring they remain independent from our funding sources. Those include: governance representatives coming from 4 stakeholder groups (scientific community, practitioners & science communicators, private sector, civil society) whose proportion is deliberately weighted towards the scientific community; acting in their individual capacity, unremunerated and filling an annual declaration of interests. Read more on our Governance pages.

4) Code of Conduct and Operating Principles:

Every EUFIC member and governance representative abides by a Code of Conduct and Operating Principles that uphold our commitment to independence and scientific integrity.

5) Financial audits:

EUFIC’s annual accounts are reviewed and approved by formally recognised external financial auditors. Our audited accounts are published annually in the Central Balance Sheet Office.

6) Transparency:

EUFIC openly shares details of its research collaborations, affiliations, and funding sources.

EUFIC is listed on the EU Transparency Register as it participates in stakeholder boards of EU institutions and is invited sporadically to attend expert or stakeholder meetings by the European Commission.

For more information about our funding, please have a look at our Annual Reports.