European whistleblowers call for a better directive
In an open letter to the European Council, Commission and Parliament five well-known European whistleblowers speak out for changing the directive and removing barriers for safe reporting.
Photos, top from left: Antoine Deltour, Ana Garrido Ramos. Bottom from left: Brigitte Heinisch, Andrea Franzoso, Raphaël Halet.
For the attention of:
The Romanian Presidency
Vice President Timmermans and Commissioner Jourová
Virginie Rozière MEP
We are writing to you now to urge you to pass a European law to protect whistleblowers that will make a real difference. We each raised serious concerns that we came across at work and it was only by taking our concerns outside the organisations where we worked that we were able to ensure that the wrongdoing was taken seriously in our countries and in Europe. Our efforts have helped EU and national policy makers address serious problems and make new laws in the best interests of all Europeans. Protecting whistleblowers strengthens European democracy.
Protecting whistleblowers strengthens European democracy.
But the costs to us for acting as we did were very high. We lost our jobs, were prosecuted, had our professional and personal credibility attacked, and suffered the huge financial and psychological strain of having to fight for survival against powers far greater than ours alone. We persisted beyond what most people would be willing to endure to ensure the public interest was protected. The people of Europe deserve better.
The Directive must live up to its promise of strengthening fundamental rights by “safeguarding freedom of expression, the public’s right to know and media freedom” – all issues that urgently need reinforcing in Europe today. You can help make this happen.
If the current EU Council position is adopted, future whistleblowers in Europe will suffer as much - if not more - than we did. Even more worrying is that people will choose to stay silent in the face of wrongdoing that harms us all.
If the current EU Council position is adopted, future whistleblowers in Europe will suffer as much - if not more - than we did.
Therefore, we call on you to ensure an EU directive to protect whistleblowers removes any barriers to safely report directly to competent authorities, protects those who speak up through their regular management structure and not just through employer prescribed systems, and significantly strengthens protections for reporting more widely to the public.
Yours sincerely,
Antoine Deltour (multinational tax avoidance schemes in Luxembourg, LuxLeaks)
Ana Garrido Ramos (corrupt practices in municipal Town Hall, leading to Gürtel scandal, Spain)
Andrea Franzoso (high value fraud committed by President of company, Italy)
Brigitte Heinisch (chronic understaffing causing severe ill-treatment of elderly people in care, Germany)
Raphaël Halet (multinational tax avoidance schemes in Luxembourg, LuxLeaks)
Photo credit. Antoine Deltour (Photo: Eurocadres), Ana Garrido Ramos (Photo: Transparency International) , Brigitte Heinisch (Photo: https://www.changeofdirection.eu/campaign-central/germany), Andrea Franzoso (Photo: Riparte Il Futuro https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=77&v=MQrW2OLEkaI) , Raphaël Halet (Photo: https://helpraph.wordpress.com/visuels/)
MORE ARTICLES
Over a quarter of a million signatories support better whistleblower protection
Today trade unions and NGOs will deliver two petitions gathering over 280,000 signatures supporting the European Parliament’s demands for an improved directive.
European whistleblowers call for better directive
In an open letter to the European Council, Commission and Parliament seven well-known European whistleblowers speak out for changing the directive and removing barriers for safe reporting.
Whistleblowers could be badly served by the EU’s proposed Whistleblowing Directive
The EU Whistleblowing Directive is an idea whose time has come. New whistleblower protection laws in Ireland, France and the Netherlands showed consensus was building among EU Member States on the need to protect and enable workers to speak up about wrongdoing in the workplace.
Change the whistleblower protection directive – or it will not work
The directive must be changed to that whistleblowers can report not only a special internal whistleblowing channel, but also to managers or law enforcement.
Making whistleblowing work for Europe
In an open letter 81 signing organisations urge the EU Council to adopt the Parliament’s position on reporting channels. The whistleblower protection directive is currently in trilogue. The signatories express serious concerns about the reporting channels regime in the Council and Commission positions in these negotiations.
Petitioning for a better whistleblower protection directive
A few weeks left to improve the whistleblower protection directive. Make your voice heard and sign the new petition for strong whistleblower protection!
What can the EU learn from Romania’s experience implementing whistleblower legislation?
The Romanian Presidency will play a key role is securing a robust whistleblower protection Directive, argues R. Nicolae, of Syene. He believes that Romania has a number of strengths which will support it leading the negotiations, as the whistleblower protection file moves from the Council to trilogue.
Will the EU whistleblower directive prohibit the obstruction of justice?
According to the Legal Counsel of the Danske Bank Whistleblower, S. Kohn, the Howard Wilkinson case clearly demonstrates that the EU Whistleblower Directive urgently needs to be revised to protect the right to report directly to law enforcement agencies and regulatory authorities.
The Duty Speech Loophole: how the EU Whistleblower Directive could backfire against its own objectives
Tom Devine, Legal Director of GAP explains why a series of technical contradictions within the EU draft directive need to be resolved, or the legislation could backfire and actually work against whistleblowers.
Legal issues must not derail whistleblower protection law
Council legal opinion must not be used to delay completion of whistleblower protection legislation
- « Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- Next »