Source: whistleblowingnetwork.org
New analysis from Transparency International has found that most EU countries, including Denmark, do not conform to the minimum requirements of the EU Directive.
The new Report – ‘How well do EU countries protect whistleblowers: Assessing the transposition of the EU Whistleblower Protection Directive’ – scrutinises the new whistleblower protection laws adopted in 20 EU member states against the minimum requirements of the Directive and international best practice principles, finding that 19 of the 20 reviewed countries do not comply with EU requirements in at least one of four key areas. These include the rights of whistleblowers to report information directly to the authorities, access remedies and full compensation for damage suffered, obtain free and easily accessible advice, and ensuring proper penalties for those violating the protection provisions.
The report highlights positive and negative elements of the new wave transposition laws, in Denmark highlighting that whilst the legislation provides for penalties for public and private organisations that implement internal whistleblowing systems or fail to follow up and provide feedback on reports, as well as requirements for public entities to collect data and report annually on implementation, there was no provision for penalties for natural or legal persons who hinder reporting, retaliate against or bring vexatious proceedings against whistleblowers, as well as no provision for advice or free legal advice/
The EU Commission is currently developing a conformity assessment by which it will benchmark Member States compliance with the Directive, passed in 2019.
The report can be read in full here.