New EU Whistleblowing Directive 


Agreement has been reached on new EU rules to protect whistleblowers. The package of measures, which includes a directive, introduces common basis protection for whistleblowers across the EU. Key elements include: 


• a requirement that all companies with more than 50 employees and most public authorities must have clear internal procedures to handle whistleblowers’ reports;


• a three-tier reporting system, with whistleblowers able to report internally, to the competent authorities and finally to the public, depending on the circumstances (that is, no obligation to use internal reporting procedures first); and


• a guarantee that whistleblowers will be protected against dismissal, demotion or other forms of retaliation. 


National governments will be required to publicise the new protections available to whistleblowers.