Decree Establishing the Code of Ethics Applicable to Civil Service Officials

Grounded in the 17 May 2005 general civil-service statute and the Conseil Supérieur de l'Administration et de la Fonction Publique's report, the decree requires every civil servant, upon taking office, to swear an oath to exercise their duties with loyalty, discretion and conscience and to refuse instructions from any external authority contrary to civil-service rules. It sets out general ethical duties: integrity, impartiality, dignity, discretion regarding administrative documents, subordination of personal interests to the administration's, a ban on using public office for influence-peddling, and restrictions on accepting gifts beyond modest customary value.

Professional responsibilities include exercising one's post effectively and continuously, treating the public with diligence, maintaining punctuality and competence, avoiding partisan political activity or religious proselytizing while in service, and respecting fiscal obligations. The decree classifies liability into three forms: disciplinary (breaches such as insubordination, procedural violations, repeated unexcused absences, falsified medical certificates, unlawful private lucrative activity, abuse of function, or trafficking in administrative acts), penal (offenses under criminal law including concussion, embezzlement, corruption, influence peddling, and misappropriation of public or private assets), and civil liability, with due-process guarantees (a clearly established fault, a procedure safeguarding the civil servant's rights, and proportionality of sanction).