Ombudsman: what are EU institutions doing to protect whistleblowers?

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details EO/14/16 (28.07.14)
Publication Date 28/07/2014
Content Type

The European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, opened an investigation in July 2014 into whether the EU administration is living up to its obligation to introduce internal whistleblowing rules. She asked nine EU institutions to inform her by 31 October 2014 about the rules they have in place, or intend to introduce.

She explained: 'The Commission's EU Anti-Corruption Report warns that corruption can seriously harm the economy and undermine the trust of citizens in democratic institutions. Whistleblowers play a key role in uncovering serious irregularities. I want to ensure that the EU institutions have in place the necessary rules to protect whistleblowers and to deal with complaints they submit about how they have been treated'.

The nine EU Institutions to be investigated were the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Court of Auditors, the European External Action Service, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, and the European Data Protection Supervisor.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/press/release.faces/en/54626/html.bookmark
Related Links
EUObserver, 28.07.14: EU institutions to be probed on whistleblower rules http://euobserver.com/justice/125129
ESO: Background information: Poor protection of whistleblowers in most EU states http://www.europeansources.info/record/poor-protection-of-whistleblowers-in-most-eu-states/
EurActiv, 29.07.14: Ombudsman pushes for more protection for EU whistleblowers http://www.euractiv.com/sections/public-affairs/ombudsman-pushes-more-protection-eu-whistleblowers-303761
Transparency International: Press Release, 28.07.14: Transparency International applauds Ombudsman inquiry into whistleblower rules http://www.transparencyinternational.eu/2014/07/transparency-international-applauds-ombudsman-inquiry-into-eu-whistleblower-rules/
ESO: Background information: Commission unveils first EU Anti-Corruption Report http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-unveils-first-eu-anti-corruption-report/

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