Whistleblowers need EU protection

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Press Release

Brussels, 17 October 2016

On 17 October a platform calling for EU-wide whistleblower protection is launched by the first 44 signatories of a joint statement. It will be open for additional organisations and individuals to sign after the launch. Following the before summer of the trade secrets directive and the LuxLeaks trial, the lack of protection of whistleblowers at EU-level has come into sharp focus.

Platform Statement

Whistleblowers need EU protection – lives, environment and money at stake.
Whistleblowers often risk ending up paying a high price for disclosing information. Yet whistleblowing can be essential in bringing to light – for example – illegal activities, corruption, activities which are contrary to public interest and threats to public health and safety. Whistleblowing can save lives, the environment and money.
It is high time for legislation on EU-wide whistleblower protection.
Whistleblower protection is in most cases a workers’ right issue. At the same time, not all whistleblowers are employees. Therefore, broad protection should be ensured covering also other than employees.

We call on the European Commission to urgently take action on bringing forward proposals on EU-wide legislation on whistleblower protection with a broad scope of groups and areas of activities protected.
We call on the European Council to support initiatives ensuring EU-wide whistleblower protection. We call on the European Parliament to continue to call for EU-wide whistleblower protection and to support initiatives ensuring EU-wide whistleblower protection.

Signatories at launch

Press Contact

Janina Mackiewicz, Policy Officer of Eurocadres.
[email protected]
+32-473 533 770

Martin Jefflén, President of Eurocadres
[email protected]
+32-473 555 344