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All European countries failing to effectively protect whistleblowers

Berlin – All EU member states and candidate countries are still failing to adequately protect whistleblowers, more than six years after the EU Whistleblowing Directive was adopted, according to Transparency International research published today. The anti-corruption NGO is warning gaps in legislation and weak implementation are deterring people from reporting wrongdoing and puts them at risk of retaliation if they do.

Its analysis of how countries are implementing the 2019 Directive, which sets a solid foundation for how individuals can report wrongdoing safely and effectively, has found some progress – with all member states and one candidate country now having adopted laws to align their legal framework, while others are still in the process of doing so.

However, serious shortcomings remain. Weak laws, patchy enforcement, and limited support force potential whistleblowers into a harsh choice: stay silent or risk losing their jobs, facing legal action, or harassment for speaking out. In addition, countries are failing to collect and publish data on whistleblowing cases and their outcomes, making meaningful oversight impossible.

This comes as the European Commission closes its public consultation on the impact of the Whistleblowing Directive, ahead of decisions later this year on a possible revision. Transparency International warns that reopening the Directive risks addressing the wrong problem and could even undermine existing protections. The main weaknesses lie not in the Directive itself, but in how it has been transposed and implemented at national level, where reforms are still urgently needed.

Marie Terracol, Whistleblower Protection Lead at Transparency International, said:

“Whistleblowers expose corrupt practices, from fraud that cost taxpayers billions to safety failures that put people’s lives at risk. Yet across Europe, people who speak up are still not properly protected. Governments are falling short where it matters most: in turning legal commitments into real protection in practice. Instead of reopening the Directive, they should focus on closing gaps in national laws, enforcing the rules, and ensuring that those who report wrongdoing are protected, supported and heard.”

Transparency International is calling on EU Member States and candidate countries to:

  • Ensure full and effective alignment with the EU Whistleblowing Directive and best practice by closing legal loopholes and enforcing protection in practice.
  • Provide accessible, independent and free advice and support services for whistleblowers.
  • Establish systematic, transparent data collection and publication on whistleblowing cases and outcomes, including disaggregated data to identify structural gaps in protection.

Note to Editors

Transparency International’s analysis of 27 Member States is available here

Transparency International’s analysis of 10 candidate countries is available here