Ethics and policies

The Journal of Mediterranean, European and African Sciences (JMEAS) is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct, transparency, and integrity in scholarly publishing. This Ethics and Policies statement outlines the principles and responsibilities governing authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher throughout the publication process.

JMEAS adheres to internationally recognized best practices in academic publishing and follows the ethical guidelines promoted by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Research Integrity

JMEAS expects all submitted manuscripts to be the result of honest, original, and responsible research.

The journal does not tolerate:

  • plagiarism or self-plagiarism;

  • data fabrication or falsification;

  • image manipulation that misrepresents results;

  • redundant or duplicate publication.

Suspected cases of research misconduct are investigated thoroughly and may result in rejection, correction, retraction, or other appropriate actions.

2. Authorship and Contribution

Authorship must accurately reflect each individual’s contribution to the work.

All listed authors must:

  • have made a substantial contribution to the conception, design, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of the study;

  • have participated in drafting or critically revising the manuscript;

  • approve the final version of the manuscript;

  • agree to be accountable for their contributions.

Any changes to authorship after submission require written consent from all authors and editorial approval.

3. Ethical Approval and Consent

Where applicable, authors must confirm that:

  • research involving human participants or animals was conducted in accordance with relevant ethical standards and regulations;

  • appropriate ethical approval was obtained from an institutional review board or ethics committee;

  • informed consent was obtained where required.

Statements regarding ethical approval and consent must be included in the manuscript when applicable.

4. Conflicts of Interest

All participants in the publication process—including authors, reviewers, and editors—must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest.

Conflicts of interest are managed transparently to ensure objectivity and trust in editorial decisions.

5. Peer Review Ethics

Peer review is conducted in a fair, confidential, and unbiased manner.

Reviewers are expected to:

  • treat manuscripts as confidential documents;

  • provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations;

  • disclose conflicts of interest and decline reviews when necessary;

  • avoid using unpublished material for personal advantage.

6. Editorial Responsibility and Independence

Editors are responsible for:

  • ensuring a fair and transparent editorial process;

  • selecting qualified reviewers;

  • making editorial decisions based solely on scholarly merit and ethical considerations.

Editorial independence is strictly maintained.
The publisher does not influence editorial decisions.

7. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

JMEAS is committed to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record.

When errors or ethical issues are identified after publication, the journal may issue:

  • corrections;

  • retractions;

  • expressions of concern.

All such notices are clearly identified and permanently linked to the original publication.

8. Data Protection and Privacy

Personal data are handled in accordance with the journal’s Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.

Confidentiality of authors, reviewers, and editors is respected at all stages of the publication process.

9. Open Access and Transparency

JMEAS supports open science principles by providing free and unrestricted access to published research.

All policies related to editorial processes, peer review, licensing, and ethics are publicly available to ensure transparency and accountability.

10. Complaints and Appeals

Authors may submit complaints or appeals regarding editorial decisions or ethical concerns.

All complaints and appeals are handled fairly, confidentially, and in a timely manner by senior editorial leadership.
Decisions following appeals are final.

11. Policy Review and Updates

These Ethics and Policies are reviewed periodically to ensure alignment with evolving ethical standards, legal requirements, and best practices in academic publishing.

Any updates will be published on the journal website and will take effect upon publication.