The ethics counselor and the ethical counseling activity within the authorities and public institutions

The ethics counselor is the civil servant, usually within the human resources department, designated by the head of the public authority or institution for the effective application of the provisions of the Administrative Code regarding the conduct of civil servants in the exercise of their functions. Law no.7 of February 18, 2004 on the Code of conduct of civil servants through art.21 introduces for the first time in the Romanian legislation the activity of ethical counseling within the public authorities and institutions. By the new Administrative Code regulated by the Emergency Ordinance no. 57/2019 of July 3, 2019, the acquisition of the quality of ethics counselor, the regime of incompatibilities, the duties, the evaluation and the termination of the activity of ethics counselor are widely regulated. Specific to the ethics counselor it is mandatory to be found within any public authority and institution in Romania, central and local public administration authorities, and the object of activity of the ethics counselor is the professional conduct of public officials and contract staff in public administration.