Press Release: Commission issues new guidelines to remind staff of whistleblowing obligations

The Commission has adopted new guidelines on whistleblowing to encourage staff to come forward and report any information pointing to corruption, fraud and other serious irregularities that they discover in the line of duty.

The EU already has some of the strictest whistleblowing rules in the world. These rules were adopted in 2004 and set out in the staff regulations, which have legislative force. The new guidelines elaborate on these rules, and bring together case law and practical experience. The guidelines also serve as a reminder to staff that while whistleblowing is a right in many legal systems, for EU staff it is an obligation.