Publication Ethics

The European Journal of Geography (EJG) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct in academic publishing. This Ethics Statement has been developed by the European Journal of Geography editorial team to reflect the journal’s independent policies and practices. Our policies follow the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and aim to ensure integrity, transparency, and accountability in all stages of the publication process.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Retractions and Corrections

EJG follows a transparent and rigorous procedure for handling corrections and retractions.

Corrections:
Minor errors, such as typographical mistakes or inaccuracies that do not affect the validity of the research, will be corrected through an Erratum linked to the original article. The correction will clearly state the reason for the update.

Retractions:
Retractions may occur when major ethical or scientific issues are identified, including plagiarism, data fabrication, methodological flaws that invalidate findings, or unethical research practices. Retracted articles do not remain available online and decisions are made in consultation with the editorial board and, if appropriate, in line with COPE recommendations.

Post-Publication Updates:
When new information emerges that significantly alters the interpretation of findings but does not undermine the validity of the work, an Addendum may be issued. Authors are expected to fully cooperate with the editorial team in addressing any post-publication issues.

Editors’ Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for ensuring the integrity of the editorial process and the quality of published research.

Editorial Decisions:
Manuscripts are evaluated solely on their scholarly merit. Specifically, their scientific soundness, methodological rigor, and contribution to geographical scholarship. Editorial decisions are not influenced by authors’ nationality, institutional affiliation, gender, race, religious or political beliefs, or personal characteristics.

Conflicts of Interest:
Editors must declare and avoid conflicts of interest. They will not handle manuscripts where they have personal, financial, or professional interests. Unpublished material disclosed in submitted manuscripts must not be used for editors’ own research.

Confidentiality:
All submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. Information is shared only with authors, reviewers, and editorial staff involved in the review process.

Error Handling and Misconduct:
Editors will investigate allegations of misconduct such as plagiarism, falsification of data, duplicate publication, or unethical research practices. When necessary, EJG will issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern.

Reviewers’ Responsibilities

Peer reviewers play a vital role in safeguarding the quality and credibility of EJG.

Timeliness:
Reviewers are expected to provide constructive feedback within the agreed timeline. If unable to complete the review, they should promptly inform the editors.

Confidentiality:
Manuscripts are confidential documents. Reviewers may not share, discuss, or use the content for personal benefit. Ethical concerns identified during review must be communicated directly to the editors.

Objectivity and Integrity:
Reviews must be objective, focusing on the methodological rigor and clarity of the research. Personal criticism of the authors is unacceptable.

Conflicts of Interest:
Reviewers must disclose any financial, professional, or personal conflicts of interest. They should not review manuscripts authored by close collaborators, colleagues from the same institution, or former students.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools: Reviewers must not use AI to write reviews or summaries that affect confidentiality. AI may be used only for language help, and reviewers remain fully responsible for their reports.

Authors’ Responsibilities

Authors must uphold honesty, transparency, and integrity in their research and reporting.

Research Standards:
Manuscripts should present original work with accurate descriptions of data, methods, and findings. Data must be presented truthfully without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation.

Human Participation and Ethics:
For research involving human participants (including surveys, interviews, focus groups, and participatory mapping) authors must ensure informed consent, protect confidentiality, and comply with relevant national and institutional ethical standards. Any work involving personal data must align with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR in the EU). Authors may be asked to provide evidence of ethical approval from their institution or a recognized ethics committee.

Data Access and Transparency:
Authors should provide sufficient detail to allow replication of their work. When possible, datasets should be made available through repositories or as supplementary materials, respecting confidentiality agreements.

Originality and Plagiarism:
All manuscripts must be original. Proper acknowledgment of sources is required, and plagiarism in any form is strictly prohibited. EJG uses plagiarism-detection software to screen submissions.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools: Authors are responsible for all content in their manuscripts, including material generated with AI. AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Any use of AI must be clearly stated in the Methods or Acknowledgment section, explaining how it was used. Authors must ensure all AI-generated content is accurate and free from copyright or bias issues.

Multiple or Redundant Publication:
Authors must not submit the same work simultaneously to more than one journal. Redundant or duplicate publications are considered misconduct.

Authorship and Acknowledgment:
Authorship must reflect significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. All authors should approve the submitted version of the manuscript. Contributions not qualifying for authorship should be acknowledged appropriately.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest and Funding:
Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the research. All sources of financial support should be clearly acknowledged.

Errors in Published Work:
If an author discovers a significant error in their published work, they must promptly notify the editors and cooperate in correcting or retracting the article.

Publisher’s Responsibilities

The publisher ensures that published material remains accessible, preserved, and transparently labeled (including retractions or corrections). The publisher also supports editors in investigating and addressing ethical concerns and maintains the journal’s digital infrastructure for long-term access.

Handling Ethical Concerns

EJG enforces a zero-tolerance policy toward unethical publishing practices, including plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate submission, and violations of human research ethics. Allegations of misconduct are investigated according to COPE guidelines and may result in corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern.

Authors, reviewers, and readers are encouraged to report potential ethical concerns to the editorial office.

EJG’s ethical policies are informed by, but not copied from, the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).