The security strategy adopted by Eni is designed to prevent the threat represented by security forces and to limit their active response by creating reciprocal respect between the company, its employees and local communities.

In 2006, a conduct clause was inserted into all contracts with companies supplying security services, regulating, among other things, the use of force in line with United Nations Codes and the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. In 2007, planning was started on a Human Rights training module for security personnel.

Eni through NAOC has issued a Security Policy and related guidelines which recall the necessity to manage risk in a responsible way. The initiative was adopted in 2004, through the internal diffusion of an adequate level of awareness, of specific activities of prevention and through the training of staff in charge of security.

These clauses are based upon Eni's Guidelines on Human Rights, the United Nations' Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials and the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, which are a set of principles to which the behaviour of the extracting companies must adapt with reference to the relation between security requirements and human rights protection.

NAOC together with the other Nigerian associated companies (AENR and NAE) has also adopted a policy on sustainability in which there are the general international principles regarding various subjects connected to sustainability, which Eni follows while carrying out its activities on the territory and in which the commitment to operating in respect and in coordination with the most relevant needs of the stakeholders on the subject in question is declared.

With more than 29,000 suppliers used worldwide in 2008 for a total expenditure of over €30 billion, Eni makes significant investments to ensure that local suppliers comply with the principles that form the basis of its code of conduct, particularly as regards the defence and promotion of human rights.

The conduct of the company's suppliers is evaluated by means of a structured, integrated grading system based on the evaluation, by a multi-disciplinary team, of the economic-financial, technical and organisational capacity of potential suppliers and of their ability to respect the standards contained in the Fundamental Conventions of ILO and of those relating to the main HSE subjects.

Any supplier wanting to be approved and authorised by Eni must agree to abide by the Code of Ethics, the Guidelines for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights  and the Principles of Model 231. As from 2007, respect of the Guidelines on Human rights is being progressively inserted into all contracts and any instances of non conformity or even partial non conformity to these Guidelines is considered sufficient reason for terminating a contract without the payment of any form of compensation. Once suppliers have obtained approval, they are monitored by means of feedback from the company departments and employees that work directly with them or are interested in their business activities.

A selection of potential local suppliers was carried out in China in 2008 in relation to strategic drilling activities, geophysical investigations as well as pipe laying, engineering and construction activities. A significant audit of the "extended" supply chain has been initiated by means of structured qualification processes with respect to companies in China as well as subsuppliers.

In 2008, 16 qualification procedures were completed in China alone – for the purposes of verifying respect for human rights and the issue of underage labor - and the first assessment of compliance with the SA8000 standard was carried out for a local supplier (a producer of umbilical cables).

In Congo, as part of the M'Boundi, IPP and Immeuble Bureaux et CMSO projests, risk analyses were carried out involving selection activities and checks on potential local or international suppliers with branch offices in the country. Nine suppliers were assessed, paying specific attention to aspects regarding the fight against corruption and illegal conduct.

Indigenous peoples have specific rights because of their special links to the areas they live in.

In these areas, Eni has adopted specific policies establishing its commitment to respecting the rights of these peoples and to take into consideration  their requirements  when makingcompany decisions.

Eni has adopted Indigenous Peoples Policies in Australia and Norway.

• CEO Statement in the Financial Times on 10 December (605 Kb)