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Improving the protection of whistle-blowers all over Europe

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 14483 | 23 January 2018

Signatories:
Mr Sylvain WASERMAN, France, ALDE ; Mr Jean-Charles ALLAVENA, Monaco, NR ; Mr Pieyre-Alexandre ANGLADE, France, NR ; Ms Sirkka-Liisa ANTTILA, Finland, ALDE ; Ms Sophie AUCONIE, France, NR ; Mr Olivier BECHT, France, ALDE ; Mr Bertrand BOUYX, France, NR ; Ms Reina de BRUIJN-WEZEMAN, Netherlands, ALDE ; Mr Raphaël COMTE, Switzerland, ALDE ; Ms Yolaine de COURSON, France, NR ; Mr Seán CROWE, Ireland, UEL ; Mr Hendrik DAEMS, Belgium, ALDE ; Ms Jennifer DE TEMMERMAN, France, NR ; Ms Doris FIALA, Switzerland, ALDE ; Ms Béatrice FRESKO-ROLFO, Monaco, EPP/CD ; Mr Bruno FUCHS, France, ALDE ; Ms Albane GAILLOT, France, NR ; Mr André GATTOLIN, France, NR ; Mr Fabien GOUTTEFARDE, France, NR ; Mr Jean-Pierre GRIN, Switzerland, ALDE ; Mr Petri HONKONEN, Finland, ALDE ; Ms Anne KALMARI, Finland, ALDE ; Ms Marietta KARAMANLI, France, SOC ; Mr Claude KERN, France, ALDE ; Mr František KOPŘIVA, Czech Republic, NR ; Mr Tiny KOX, Netherlands, UEL ; Mr Eerik-Niiles KROSS, Estonia, ALDE ; Mr Christophe LACROIX, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Jérôme LAMBERT, France, SOC ; Ms Alexandra LOUIS, France, NR ; Ms Kerstin LUNDGREN, Sweden, ALDE ; Mr Jacques MAIRE, France, NR ; Mr Edmon MARUKYAN, Armenia, ALDE ; Mr Rasmus NORDQVIST, Denmark, UEL ; Mr Pieter OMTZIGT, Netherlands, EPP/CD ; Mr Henk OVERBEEK, Netherlands, UEL ; Mr Bernard PASQUIER, Monaco ; Mr Frédéric REISS, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Søren SØNDERGAARD, Denmark, UEL ; Mr Bertrand SORRE, France, NR ; Ms Olena SOTNYK, Ukraine, ALDE ; Mr Pavel STANĚK, Czech Republic, ALDE ; Mr Aleksandar STEVANOVIĆ, Serbia, ALDE ; Ms Petra STIENEN, Netherlands, ALDE ; Ms Tineke STRIK, Netherlands, SOC ; Ms Petra De SUTTER, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Adrien TAQUET, France, NR ; Ms Nicole TRISSE, France, NR ; Mr Robert TROY, Ireland, ALDE ; Mr Mart van de VEN, Netherlands, ALDE ; Ms Marie-Christine VERDIER-JOUCLAS, France, NR

Since 2010, the Parliamentary Assembly has adopted several resolutions and recommendations stressing the importance of improving the protection of whistleblowers, Resolution 1729 (2010), Recommandation 1916 (2010), Resolution 2060 (2015), Recommandation 2073 (2015) and more specifically on top secret matters Resolution 1838 (2011), and the protection of journalists' sources of information Recommandation 1983 (2011), Recommandation 1950 (2011). The Committee of Ministers also addressed the subject in its Recommendation CM/Rec (2014).

The continuation of this work would mark, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe, the desire for an effective transposition into the legislation of the States parties to the European Convention on Human Rights of enhanced protection for whistleblowers. Indeed, this protection needs to be strengthened, particularly in the fields of public security, corruption and finance. The law in this area is not steady, as illustrated by several cases that have arisen in recent years.

The role of whistleblowers in fighting corruption, embezzlement and public security breaches has become indisputable. The challenge of harmonising the qualification of the whistleblower and sharing good practices among States promoting increased protection for them has become essential.

The Assembly therefore decides to examine and evaluate the States practices concerning the protection of whistleblowers, by studying the advantages, difficulties and human rights implications of these legislations in the light of the recommendations previously adopted. Following this study, the Assembly will make recommendations to the member States and the Committee of Ministers on the relevance of these regulations and the possibilities of strengthening them, taking full account of the European Union's action and the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights.