Whistleblower Protection in the EU: Analysis of and Recommendations on the Proposed EU Directive

Whistleblowers play an essential role in exposing corruption and other wrongdoing that threaten the public interest. By disclosing information about such misdeeds, whistleblowers have helped save countless lives and billions of euros in public funds.

Protecting whistleblowers from unfair treatment, including retaliation, discrimination or disadvantage, can embolden people to report wrongdoing, which increases the likelihood that wrongdoing is prevented, uncovered and penalised. Whistleblower protection is thus a key means for enhancing effective enforcement of legislation.

On 23 April 2018, the European Commission published a proposal for an EU-wide Whistleblowing Directive. The proposed legislation is aimed at providing better protection to whistleblowers across the EU and should provide both public- and private-sector organisations with greater legal certainty regarding their rights and obligations.

Transparency International has prepared this analysis of the proposal, which provides recommendations aimed at closing loopholes and strengthening the proposed text.