# Are EU Governments Taking Whistleblower Protection Seriously? Progress Report on Transposition of the EU Directive URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/eu-governments-whistleblower-protection Type: Publication or report Published: 2021-03-24 Updated: 2021-05-12 --- 24 March 2021 Whistleblowing is one of the most effective ways of uncovering corruption and other wrongdoing. Robust legislation is vital to protect whistleblowers against retaliation and other injustices, and to ensure their reports are addressed. In most European countries, blowing the whistle is a risky decision to make, primarily because there is no, or insufficient, legal protection for whistleblowers. In 2019, the European Union adopted the “Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law” ([Whistleblower Protection Directive](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32019L1937)). The Directive contains many ground-breaking provisions. It prohibits retaliation against whistleblowers, safeguards their identities in most circumstances and offers them several reporting avenues. The 27 EU member states have two years from its entry into force (until 17 December 2021) to comply with the Directive. This report assesses the transposition process of the Whistleblower Protection Directive in all 27 EU member states, 14 months into the two-year timeframe. ### Related publications ## [Regional Assessment of Integrity in Political Finance in South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/integrity-political-finance-asia) Publication • 03 September 2026 This report reviews systems across 17 countries to identify the areas of political finance most in need of reform. ## [Annual Report 2025](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/annual-report-2025) Publication • 17 July 2026 In 2025, Transparency International pursued its mission to stop corruption and promote transparency, accountability and integrity at all levels and across all sectors of society. ## [Connecting the Dots: How financial intelligence units expose corrupt money flows and how they could do more](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/connecting-the-dots) Publication • 24 June 2026 Financial intelligence units can play a key role in uncovering corruption, but only if they have the powers, resources and access to information they need. ## [Global Corruption Barometer 2003](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/gcb-2003) Publication • 03 July 2003 ## Priorities - [Whistleblowing](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/whistleblowing) ## Regions - [European Union](https://www.transparency.org/en/region/european-union) ## Projects - [Whistleblowing programme](https://www.transparency.org/en/projects/whistleblowing-project) ![](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/WB-transition-cover.jpg?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=1200) [Download](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/2021_EU-Governments-Whistleblower-Protection_English_12052021.pdf)