|
MINISTERS’ DEPUTIES |
CM Documents |
CM(2024)11-add |
2 February 2024[1] |
|
1490th meeting, 21 February 2024 11 Programme, Budget and Administration
11.1 Pension Reserve Fund of the Council of Europe Second report for 2023 of the Management Board to the Committee of Ministers - Code of Conduct of the Management Board Item to be considered by the GR-PBA at its meeting on 6 February 2024 |
The document hereafter presents the changes proposed to the Code of Conduct of the Management Board of the Pension Reserve Fund, as contained in Appendix III of document CM(2024)11.
Code of Conduct of the Management Board
of the Pension Reserve Fund
THE MANAGEMENT BOARD OF THE PENSION RESERVE FUND OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE (the Fund),
HAVING REGARD to Article 7, paragraph 1, of the Statute of the Fund,
CONSIDERING that the Management Board’s Code of Conduct dated 26 June 2006 shall be updated,
HAVE AGREED upon this Code of Conduct:
1. Preamble
1.1 The members of the Management Board shall be jointly responsible for the management of the Pension Reserve Fund in accordance with its statute approved by the Ministers’ Deputies on 1 February 2006 (954th meeting, Item 11.1) as amended.
1.2 The members of the Management Board shall observe the highest standard of ethical conduct. They are expected to act honestly, independently, impartially, and without regard to self-interest and to avoid any situation liable to give rise to a conflict of interests or appearance of conflict of interests. They shall be guided by the standards and principles reflected in the ethics framework of the Council of Europe as appropriate.[2]
2. Independence and integrity
2.1 The members of the Management Board shall not seek or take instructions from any member state, authority or from any other body, including any decision-making body that they belong to, except the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
2.2 The members of the Management Board shall act independently from any interference from non-governmental organisations and/or commercial entities interference in the exercise of their functions and powers and they shall neither seek nor accept any gratuity, benefit, or remuneration in connection with their functions.
2.3 The members of the Management Board shall report any fraud, corruption or misuse of the Fund’s assets to the Committee of Ministers.
3. Professional secrecy
3.1 The members of the Management Board shall be subject to an obligation of strict confidentiality in performing their duties.
4. Knowledge and skills
4.1 The members of the Management Board and their advisors shall, with the support of the Fund Secretariat as well as the external advisors selected by the Management Board, should together possess and apply the knowledge and skills to fulfil governance responsibilities. They should act in order to constantly meet with the highest level of knowledge required for their mission.
5. Conflict of interests
5.1 The members of the Management Board must put the interests of the Organisation as a whole ahead of their own personal interest or any sectoral interests they might have and must carry out their tasks in an independent and impartial manner. They shall avoid any situation liable to give rise to a conflict of interests or appearance of conflict of interests. A conflict of interests arises where athe member of the Management Board hasve a personal interests which is such as to may influence, or appear to influence, the impartial and objective performance of their his/her duties. Personal interests of the members of the Management Board mean any potential advantage for themselves, their families, and their other acquaintances.
5.2 Any member of the Management Board that should consider him or herself to be in a situation liable to give rise to a conflict of interests or appearance of conflict of interests shall immediately inform the Management Board, which shall take the appropriate measures.
6. Status of Council of Europe officials
6.1 Officials of the Council of Europe who have been appointed members of the Management Board will exercise such functions in an official capacity. In this respect, they will remain fully subjected to the Council of Europe Staff Regulations and Rules, as well as its ethics framework. They are and will be covered by the relevant privileges and immunities.
7. Application of the Code of Conduct
7.1 In case of doubt related to the interpretation of, and compliance with, the present code of conduct or the relevant provisions of the Organisation’s ethics framework, the Management Board may consult the Ethics Officer for advice. In case of any difficulties encountered in the application of the present code of conduct, the Management Board shall report to the Committee of Ministers which shall take the appropriate measures.
[dated and signed]