Respect for the Group’s values

Group Code of Ethics

The Group Code of Ethics rolled out in the business lines and Group companies between 2013 and 2014. The Group wanted the Code to be championed at the managerial level, so presentations to the Executive Management Committee were held, as well as team meetings and integration training. The Code has been widely circulated by managers or via the Group’s many communication tools (intranets, noticeboards, newsletters, emails, etc.).

Non-financing of political parties

The EDF group complies with the laws and regulations in force concerning the financing of political parties. The EDF group’s Code of Ethics states that the Group “respects the beliefs and opinions of everyone as well as those of political organisations, trade unions and religious organisations without providing support to any in particular”. Thus, such financing may take place only in those countries that authorize it, and then only with due regard to the principle of neutrality.

In accordance with the legislation in force in France, EDF SA makes no payments to political parties.

The Group’s Italian and UK subsidiaries have written directly into their codes of conduct the prohibition of financing political parties. This is the case of subsidiaries Edison and Fenice in Italy and EDF Energy in the UK. In Belgium, EDF Luminus has made no contribution to political parties. In the United States, certain subsidiaries have made token contributions transparently and publicly to political action Committees in full compliance with US law and within the framework of rigorous managerial validation.

Fighting against fraud

Within the priority actions defined by the Group, the fight against fraud is a major concern: a “zero tolerance” policy has been enforced since the end of 2010. Within the framework of the internal control system, managers have drawn up and adopted anti-fraud measures locally.

In 2017, a memorandum of instructions and an operational support guide were distributed with the aim of explaining to managers and the entity’s Heads of Ethic and Compliance, the main checks to be carried out in order to contribute to keeping the risk of fraud under control. This guide will be updated regularly.

Prevention of harassment and discrimination

As part of its policy of respect for persons, the Group does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment or violence in the workplace. This commitment is part of the regulatory and judicial context which, in many countries, incriminates not only the actions and behaviours themselves, but also employers who fail to implement sufficient preventative measures. Respect for people is one of the key commitments of the Group Code of Ethics, and it is upheld by every Group employee, irrespective of his or her position within the Group.

More specifically, directors take all necessary measures to prevent discrimination, harassment and physical and emotional violence in their entities by striving to make employees aware of the risks of harassment and discrimination, raise awareness among managers on ways of preventing and fighting harassment and discrimination, communicate regularly on the ethics and compliance whistleblowing system and apply the appropriate sanctions in the event of proven wrongdoings. All cases reported via the whistleblowing system are processed in accordance with the Group’s zero tolerance policy.