The Protection of Whistleblowers in Europe
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14600/irpps_wps.93.2016Keywords:
whistleblowing, dissent, corruption, refugees protectionAbstract
Whistleblowing is the act of disclosing information from a public institution or private organisation with the purpose of revealing cases of corruption or secrecy that are of immediate or potential danger to the public interest. When systems of public control and accountability fail, whistleblowing is a measure of last resort against corruption and unrestrained secrecy, and should then be granted legal protection. This study argues that the European Union should stand up for the legal protection of whistleblowers and encourage their contribution towards more transparent institutions and economic transactions. To this purpose, it outlines a set of policy recommendations for the introduction of a European Directive in this field.References
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Legal sources - United States
Civil Service Reform Act, (October 13, 1978, Pub.L. 95–454, 92 Stat. 1111) (CSRA)
Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Pub.L. 111–203, H.R. 4173)
Hatch Act ( 139, 5 U.S.C.A. 7324)
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA, Pub.L. 103–353, codified as amended at 38 U.S.C. §§ 4301–4335)
Legal Sources - EU
Council of Europe - Civil Law Convention on Criminal Corruption November 2003. See: http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/QueVoulezVous.asp?CL=ENG&NT=174
European Parliament resolution of 25 November 2015 on tax rulings and other measures similar in nature or effect (2015/2066(INI)), available at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+TA+P8-TA-2015-0408+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN
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Cases cited
Guja v. Moldova - 14277/04, 12 February 2008
Reports
European Union Integrity System, Transparency International, available at:http://www.transparencyinternational.eu/european-union-integrity-system-study/the-euis-report-latest-news/
Global Corruption Barometer 2013, Transparency International, available at: http://www.transparency.org/gcb2013
Whistleblowing in Europe 2013 Report, Transparency International, available at: http://www.transparency.org/whatwedo/publication/whistleblowing_in_europe_legal_protections_for_whistleblowers_in_the_eu
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