Update: More information on the directive here.

Service provided by whistleblowers, combined with strong encouragement and protection of active whistleblowers, has proven to be a vital link between the public interest and enhancement of the public good, away from corruption, negligence, and malfeasance. Despite their protected position encouraging and even enabling them to reveal insider knowledge of wrongdoing, employees and stakeholders still hesitate to disclose insightful information to the public, for fear of retaliation.

To enhance the critical encouragement of whistleblowers, the European Commission has established  new safeguards in the interest of freedom of expressions (Article 11 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights) and law  enforcement  through  the  Whistleblower  Protection  Directive. The supranational law will enter into force twenty days after its publication in the EU’s official journal. The new directive aims to facilitate effective detection, investigation, and prosecution of organisations breaching EU law on an internationally consistent level. Assembling and unifying the previous fragmentation of whistleblower protections across the EU, this horizontal legislative approach guarantees robust protection in both public and private sectors.

For further information, please contact Bettina Knoetzl or your customary relationship professional at KNOETZL.