East Central Europe: Between the Baltic and the Adriatic fully adheres to the principles and standards established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), including the Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors and the Code of Conduct for Journal Publishers. The journal is firmly committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity throughout the publication process.

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Responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief

Publication Decisions

The Editor-in-Chief holds ultimate authority over editorial decisions and ensures that all submissions undergo an impartial and rigorous double-blind peer-review process by at least two experts in the relevant field. Manuscript types not subject to peer review (e.g., book reviews) are evaluated through comprehensive editorial assessment by at least one member of the editorial team.

Decisions regarding acceptance or rejection are based exclusively on scholarly merit — including originality, methodological soundness, clarity of presentation, significance of findings, and relevance to the journal’s aims and scope — as well as the reviewers’ recommendations. The Editor-in-Chief evaluates submissions without regard to authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or national origin, citizenship, religious beliefs, political views, or institutional affiliation. When appropriate, the Editor-in-Chief may consult additional editors or reviewers to inform the decision-making process.

The Editor-in-Chief exercises full authority over the journal’s editorial content and the scheduling of publication. Legal and ethical standards concerning defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism must always be observed.

Confidentiality

Editors and members of the editorial team must ensure strict confidentiality with respect to all submitted manuscripts. No information about a submission may be disclosed to anyone other than the corresponding author, assigned reviewers, potential reviewers, editorial consultants, or the publisher, as appropriate.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Editors and members of the editorial board must not use unpublished information obtained through submitted manuscripts for their own research or personal advantage without the author’s explicit written consent. Editors must withdraw from handling any manuscript in which a conflict of interest exists due to competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with the authors, institutions, or entities connected to the work.

Ethical Oversight and Cooperation in Investigations

In the event of an allegation of unethical behavior regarding a submitted or published paper, the Editor-in-Chief, in cooperation with the publisher, will act in accordance with COPE’s Flowcharts for Dealing with Publication Misconduct. All such cases will be investigated thoroughly, regardless of the time elapsed since publication. If misconduct is verified, the journal will issue a correction, retraction, expression of concern, or other appropriate notice to safeguard the integrity of the scholarly record.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Peer reviewers assist the Editor-in-Chief and the editorial board in making editorial decisions and may also help authors improve their manuscripts through constructive feedback. The peer review process is an essential component of maintaining academic quality and integrity.

Promptness

Reviewers who feel unqualified to evaluate a particular manuscript or who know that they cannot complete the review within the designated timeframe should promptly notify the Editor-in-Chief and withdraw from the review process.

Confidentiality

All manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They must not be shared or discussed with others except as authorized by the Editor-in-Chief. Reviewers must not retain copies of submitted manuscripts after completing the review process.

Standards of Objectivity

Reviews must be conducted objectively and in a scholarly manner. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Reviewers should clearly express their views with supporting arguments, identifying relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors where appropriate.

Acknowledgement of Sources

Reviewers should identify instances where relevant published work has not been cited. They should also bring to the editor’s attention any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under review and other published works of which they are aware.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in a reviewer’s own research without the author’s explicit written consent. Reviewers must decline to evaluate manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest arising from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with the authors, institutions, or organizations connected to the work.

Responsibilities of Authors

Reporting Standards

Authors should present an accurate and complete account of the research conducted, as well as an objective discussion of its significance. Data should be represented truthfully and transparently. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that their submissions are entirely original works. Where the work of others has been used, it must be properly cited or quoted. Plagiarism in any form, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited.

Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal. Submitting the same research in multiple publications constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable.

Acknowledgement of Sources

Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given. Authors should cite all sources that have influenced the reported research.

Authorship of the Paper

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All those who have made substantial contributions should be listed as co-authors, and all co-authors must approve the final version of the paper and agree to its submission.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

All authors must disclose any financial or other substantive conflicts of interest that may be construed to influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript. All sources of financial support should be acknowledged.

Fundamental Errors in Published Works

When an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they are obliged to promptly notify the Editor-in-Chief or publisher and cooperate in retracting or correcting the paper.

Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher is committed to ensuring that good practice and ethical standards are maintained throughout the publication process. In cases of alleged or proven misconduct, plagiarism, or fraudulent publication, the publisher will, in collaboration with the Editor-in-Chief, take all necessary steps to clarify the situation and amend the record, including issuing corrections, retractions, or other relevant statements.

The publisher shall not exert influence on the editorial decisions of the journal and shall fully support the editorial team in maintaining academic independence and integrity.