Not a single EU country has met the 17 December deadline for transposing into national law the whistleblower directive, meant to increase the protection of those who report breaches of EU law.
In April 2018, the European Commission presented a package of initiatives, including a directive on shielding whistleblowers. The directive was adopted on 23 October 2019 and entered into force two months later. Member states had until Friday to transpose it into national law.
The directive was created to increase protection for whistleblowers due to the “uneven and fragmented” approach at the national level, the Commission said, adding that “whistleblowers are often discouraged from reporting their concerns for fear of retaliation.”
“Whistleblowers are brave people willing to bring illegal activities to light – often at great risk to their career and livelihood – to protect the public from wrongdoing. They deserve recognition and protection for their brave actions. I call on the member states to transpose the new rules without delay,” said Věra Jourová, Commission vice-president, for values and transparency.
The package of initiatives creates a comprehensive legal framework for whistleblowers, including creating accessible reporting channels, reinforcing the obligation of confidentiality, forbidding retaliation against whistleblowers, and establishing targeted protection measures.
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