Source: english.atlatszo.hu
Watchdog Atlatszo has published an article expressing their concerns that Hungary is the only country in the EU not to initiate any steps to transpose the EU Directive on whistleblowing.
Only seven Member States met the 17 December 2021 deadline, however the other delayed countries have either presented draft laws or have hosted public consultations on the EU Directive.
Atlatszo also reports the Hungarian Government has been largely silent on the issue:
“We reject unfounded and politically motivated concerns about Hungary’s anti-corruption policies, because in international comparison Hungary has an outstanding, detailed anti-corruption strategy, an effective whistleblower protection system and strict criminal law rules“, as Justice Minister Judit Varga wrote in August last year in response to the current “attacks from Brussels”. We quoted it as in the last three years this is the only sentence published on the government website about the regulation of whistleblower protection. “
The article explains delays are likely due to the Parliamentary elections and not “due to the fact that the Hungarian corruption strategy is outstanding and the whistleblower protection system is already effective.”
Civil Society continues to monitor the Government’s approach to implementing proper whistleblowing protection.