Observatory of Public Ethics

The Observatoire de l'éthique publique (OEP) is a French non-profit think tank founded on 19 January 2018 and presided over by René Dosière. It brings together researchers and public actors to advance transparency and integrity in public life as well as business ethics. The organisation describes itself as a force for research, proposal, advice, and awareness-raising in the fields of public ethics, business ethics, and digital ethics. It is an association under the French law of 1901 and has around 80 to 100 members. The OEP was born from a desire by René Dosière, a former parliamentarian known for his work on public financial transparency, to create a collective effort beyond individual action. In December 2016, academic Matthieu Caron proposed to Dosière and Jean-François Kerléo the creation of a think tank gathering researchers and parliamentarians. Dosière publicly announced the project on 13 May 2017, and the OEP was formally established on 19 January 2018 at the French National Assembly. Laurianne Rossi, then quaestor of the National Assembly, became vice-president. The think tank held its official launch press conference at the National Assembly on 31 May 2018. The OEP conducts applied research, pairing academics with parliamentarians to identify 'grey zones' (areas of opacity) and 'white zones' (legal vacuums) in the Republic, and to propose legislative improvements. It publishes notes, collective works, and policy proposals, and engages in public debate. Its work is regularly cited in parliamentary discussions on ethics and public integrity. In January 2020, it created a Business Ethics department, arguing that business ethics is a matter of public ethics because companies should be considered a res publica. The OEP also organises national conferences, such as the Assises nationales de l'éthique du numérique and the Assises nationales de l'éthique publique locale. Over time, the OEP's doctrine evolved from 'tranquil transparency' to 'constructive transparency', especially after the Rugy affair in 2020. The organisation remains active, publishing notes and books, and hosting events. Its current president is René Dosière, and its director general is Matthieu Caron. The OEP is a private, non-profit association, not listed on any stock exchange.

The Observatoire de l'éthique publique (OEP) was founded on 19 January 2018, but its origins trace back to autumn 2016. René Dosière, a former parliamentarian who dedicated his career to financial transparency of public authorities, expressed regret in an interview with the French Review of Public Finances that he had remained an artisan and could not form a small enterprise with other parliamentarians to tackle complex issues. In December 2016, academic Matthieu Caron proposed to Dosière and Jean-François Kerléo the creation of a think tank bringing together researchers and parliamentarians. On 13 May 2017, Dosière publicly announced the creation of a laboratory of ideas with academics. On 19 January 2018, about fifteen researchers and several parliamentarians met at the French National Assembly to give birth to the OEP. René Dosière was elected president, and Laurianne Rossi, then quaestor of the National Assembly, became vice-president. The think tank officially launched at a press conference at the National Assembly on 31 May 2018. The OEP's philosophy is rooted in promoting strong and positive transparency and integrity in public life to restore trust. Its programmatic op-ed in Libération stated that the demand for responsibility does not mean demanding unconditional light on everything; only a tranquil transparency that ends questionable secrets while avoiding instilling distrust can re-legitimise public authorities. In January 2020, following the Rugy affair, Director General Matthieu Caron announced that the OEP's doctrine would shift from 'tranquil transparency' to 'constructive transparency'. The OEP conducts applied research, pairing researchers and parliamentarians to detect 'grey zones' (opacity) and 'white zones' (legal vacuums) and propose legislative improvements. It produces academic works and practical knowledge for the press, institutions, and the public. Since early 2019, parliamentarians such as Christine Pires Beaune, Régis Juanico, and Cécile Untermaier have posed numerous written questions on transparency and executive ethics, following in Dosière's footsteps. The OEP's work is regularly cited in amendments or legislative proposals on public ethics. Structurally, the OEP is a non-profit association under the French law of 1901, with about 80 members. In January 2020, it created a Business Ethics department, considering business ethics a matter of public ethics because companies should be seen as a res publica. Many researchers joined, including Laurence Scialom, Patricia Crifo, Antoine Rébérioux, Sophie Harnay, Stéphane Vernac, Pierre Antoine Chardel, and Geert Demuijnck. The department published a programmatic op-ed in Le Monde titled 'Let's make France a pioneer nation in business ethics'. Among its works, on 24 November 2018, a collective from the OEP published an op-ed titled 'Should Matignon still subsidise think tanks?' denouncing the opaque and unfair funding system of French think tanks by the Prime Minister. Matignon eventually granted a subsidy to the OEP, and the think tank's members announced they would seek transparency and reform of the funding system. On 26 November 2018, Julia Cagé gave a conference at Sciences Po Lille to present her book 'Le Prix de la démocratie'. On 12 December 2018, Elina Lemaire, author of a study on the remuneration scheme of members of the Constitutional Council, presented her work. The OEP continues to publish notes, such as Note #56 on the legal regime of the Data Protection Officer, and collective works like 'Transparence, éthique et gouvernance de l'internet', and organises national conferences on digital ethics and local public ethics.

• Matthieu Caron proposes to René Dosière and Jean-François Kerléo the creation of a think tank.

• René Dosière publicly announces the creation of a laboratory of ideas with academics.

• Founding meeting at the French National Assembly; René Dosière elected president.

• Official launch press conference at the National Assembly.

• Publication of op-ed 'Matignon doit-il encore subventionner les think tanks?'

• Julia Cagé gives a conference at Sciences Po Lille.

• Elina Lemaire presents her study on the remuneration of Constitutional Council members.

• Creation of the Business Ethics department; doctrine shifts to 'constructive transparency'.

• Publication of Note #56 on the legal regime of the Data Protection Officer.

• Second Assises nationales de l'éthique du numérique held in Nevers.

• Assises nationales de l'éthique publique locale held in Lyon.

A non-partisan applied research think tank promoting constructive transparency and integrity in public life, business, and digital affairs.

• Note #56: Pour un régime juridique du délégué à la protection des données

  A note by Raphaël Maurel on the legal fragility of the DPO in France.

• Transparence, éthique et gouvernance de l'internet

  A collective book from the RESIST research project led by the OEP.

1. 1Accueil ∙ Observatoire de l'Éthique Publiqueobservatoireethiquepublique.com
2. 2Observatoire de l'éthique publiquewikidata.org
3. 3Observatoire de l'éthique publiquefr.wikipedia.org