EU

Trade union and NGO coalition launch: '#Whistleblowers need EU protection – lives, environment and money at stake'

Published

10 years ago

October 17, 2016

On 17 October, a platform calling for EU-wide whistleblower protection was launched by the first 48 signatories of a joint statement. It will be open for additional organizations 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:

Eurocadres – Council of European Professional and Managerial Staff

ETUC – European Trade Union Confederation

Transparency International EU

EFFAT – European Federation of Food Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions

ETF – European Transport Workers’ Federation

European Federation of Journalists

European Federation of Public Service Unions, EPSU

IndustriAll European Trade Union

UNI Europa

Public Services International (PSI)

AGENQUADRI CGIL