New EU rules on whistleblowing

Bjorn Rohde-Liebenau of RCC Risk Communication Concepts sent in this information

A study on "Whistleblowing Rules: Best Practice; Assessment and Revision of Rules Existing in EU Institutions" has been presented to the European Parliament last week by its authors RCC Risk Communication Concepts,

Hamburg

.

The study consists of a 50 pages English language main body, plus summaries also in French and German several charts and Annexes, including a benchmarking.  The importance and meaning of Whistleblowings is explained from its context. A best practice and requirements for EU improvements are derived from international precedence as well as the good management experience (risk and quality management).

Apart from the sometimes urgently needed improvements on rules and practices, the study suggests measures to improve the internal risk dialogue and for an integrated ethics management, which would enable the EU to reach standards of international best practice and international conventions. The study also addresses the situation in

Germany

as well as in other European member states. Apart form the

UK

, whose Public Interest Disclosure Act defines best legal practice, most Member States provide a certain level of encouragement to whistleblowers, usually even a duty to report on some issues. In practice this is outweighed by exception and restrictions to disclosures, as well as the fact that whistleblower protection tends to be practically irrelevant – e.g. for reasons of the burden of proof.  More...