The European Parliament adopted by 607 votes to 16, with 70 abstentions, a resolution on the role of whistle-blowers in the protection of EU’s financial interests.
Members stressed that whistle-blowers contribute greatly to increasing the democratic quality of, and the trust in, public institutions by making them directly accountable to citizens and more transparent.
European protection programme: Parliament deplored the fact that the Commission has so far failed to submit any legislative proposals aimed at establishing a minimum level of protection for European whistleblowers. It urged the Commission to immediately submit a legislative proposal establishing an effective and comprehensive European whistle-blower protection programme which includes mechanisms for companies, public bodies and non-profit organisations.
More specifically, the Commission is called upon to submit a legislative proposal before the end of this year protecting whistle-blowers as part of the necessary measures in the fields of the prevention of and fight against fraud affecting the financial interests of the Union.
Member States which have not yet adopted the principles to protect whistle-blowers in their domestic law are called on to do so as soon as possible.
Whistle-blower protection: Parliament considered it necessary to foster an ethical culture helping to ensure that whistle-blowers will not suffer retaliation or face internal conflicts. It stressed that the definition of whistle-blowing includes the protection of those who disclose information with a reasonable belief that the information is true at the time it is disclosed, including those who make inaccurate disclosures in honest error.
The Commission is invited to:
European body: Parliament stressed the need to establish an independent information-gathering, advisory and referral EU body, with offices in Member States which are in a position to receive reports of irregularities. It should be provided with sufficient budgetary resources, adequate competences and appropriate specialists, in order to help internal and external whistle-blowers in using the right channels to disclose their information on possible irregularities affecting the financial interests of the Union, while protecting their confidentiality and offering needed support and advice.
Special unit with the European Parliament: Members requested the establishment a special unit with a reporting line as well as dedicated facilities (e.g. hotlines, websites, contact points) within Parliament for receiving information from whistle-blowers relating to the financial interests of the Union, which will also provide them with advice and help in protecting them against any possible retaliatory measure. They called for a website to be launched where complaints can be submitted.
Single working protocol: the resolution called on the Commission to :
Lastly, Parliament called on Member States to refrain from criminalising the actions of whistle-blowers in disclosing information about illegal activities or irregularities harmful to the EU’s financial interests.