On 15 July 2022, the European Commission informed the public that it proceeded with infringement proceedings against 15 EU Member States for not having transposed the Directive on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (the “EU Whistleblower’s Directive” (2019/1937)). The Member States concerned are:

• Bulgaria;
• Czechia;
• Estonia;
• Finland;
• France;
• Germany;
• Greece;
• Hungary;
• Ireland;
• Italy;
• Luxembourg;
• The Netherlands;
• Poland;
• Slovakia;
• Spain.

The deadline for Member States to transpose the Directive was 17 December 2021. The Commission initiated the infringement proceedings in January 2022. The Commission now sent reasoned opinions to the Member States. If the Commission does not receive satisfactory replies within the next two months, it may decide to refer the concerned Member States to the CJEU.

The Whistleblower’s Directive establishes rules and procedures to protect individuals who report information they acquired in a work-related context on breaches of EU law in key policy areas. Breaches include both unlawful acts or omissions and abusive practices (→ eucrim 4/2019, 238-239).