More EU protection for whistleblowers

brussels - Whistleblowers and sources of investigative journalists receive more protection in the EU. The European Commission is proposing a series of rules so that employees who make a call about illegal cases such as corruption, tax avoidance or violation of EU environmental regulations receive legal protection against retaliatory measures such as dismissal, demotion or prosecution. This also applies to people who help journalists to get illegal practices.

According to the committee, only ten of the 28 EU Member States have sufficient legislation to protect whistleblowers in all sectors, including the Netherlands, France, Sweden and Hungary. For example, in most countries only civil servants are protected or only the financial sector is covered.

The committee wants all companies in the EU with more than fifty employees and an annual turnover of more than 10 million euros to set up internal procedures for reports of violations. Municipalities with more than 10,000 inhabitants and regional authorities are also covered by the new legislation. Authorities and companies have three months to respond to notifications and take further action.

Vice-chairman Frans Timmermans: 'Many recent scandals had never been revealed if insiders had not had the courage to come out with them. They took enormous risks. They should not be punished for taking the right decisions. '

Brussels determines which reprisals against whistleblowers are to be banned and punished. Whistleblowers who do have to deal with this do not have to prove that they are intimidated or dismissed because of their actions. From now on, the burden of proof will lie with the company or organization nailed to the pillory.

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