Council for Integrity and Mediation

The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) represents the collective interests of the commercial economy – clearly within its statutory competencies. The Council for Integrity and Mediation critically accompanies this work, strengthens transparency and trust, and assumes the role of a complaints committee when necessary. Its reports are public.

The effective representation of the collective interests of businesses associated with the chambers of commerce on national, European, and international levels is the core task of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK). Fundamental to this is adherence to the legal competence limits. The Council for Integrity and Mediation observes DIHK's statements against this background. It contributes to enhancing the transparency of DIHK's work and increasing trust in it. In cases of complaints from chamber members, it assumes the role of a complaints committee. The Council for Integrity and Mediation publishes its reports.

Establishment

On 24 January 2023, the DIHK Assembly established the Council for Integrity and Mediation. It aims to serve as an independent entity to accompany the work of DIHK, ensure adherence to statutory competence frameworks, and act as a complaints committee when chamber members raise grievances about DIHK's statements breaching its competence as per Section 11a Paragraph 3 Clause 3 of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry Act.

Tasks

The Council has the following primary tasks:

to review DIHK's activities in representing collective interests as per Section 10a of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry Act for adherence to legal competence limits,
to evaluate DIHK's tools for continuous improvement of collective interest representation,
to act as a complaints committee to review grievances from chamber members,
to regularly report on its activities.