The code - a tool for influence

The Code is a toolkit and a checklist to stimulate the participation of organisations in public decision-making processes. The aim of the Code is to facilitate collaboration and to contribute to the creation of a good environment for organisations in the Council of Europe member states and in Belarus.

The Code provides examples of how citizens can participate in the political decision-making process through their involvement in NGOs. It is a tool that authorities, municipalities and associations can use to plan and evaluate their cooperation. The code was developed in 2009 and the last updated version was published in 2020.

The Code is based on these principles:

• participation
• trust
• responsibility
• transparency and independence

The Code is summarised in a matrix where one axis shows the six different stages of the policy-making process and the other axis shows four different levels of participation. The Code is non-binding and does not prescribe any rules.

Download and order the Code here (available only in Swedish)