More information
Description
At the global level, the contribution of whistleblowers to put on the public agenda information of public interest, which reveals human rights violations, violations of the law, corruption acts, has increasingly raised the need for public action in order to ensure their protection against the sanctions, harassment or marginalization to which they may be subjected. A direct consequence of this need for public action is the adoption by the European Council and the European Parliament in 2019 of the European Directive (hereinafter the Directive) on the protection of persons reporting breaches of EU law. Romania, similar to other Member States, has two years to put in practice the provisions of the Directive into national law, the deadline being December 17, 2021. The transposition time-frame into national law is an opportunity for civil society organizations and other interested stakeholders to contribute to the adoption of national legislation in accordance with EU law and at the same time putting an important subject on the public agenda. The project aims to contribute to the efficient transposition of the Directive, a process which also involves the creation of legislative and social frameworks in which Romanian whistleblowers feel safe and benefit from protection and support and in which the warning activity that they carry out does not affect their personal/professional lives negatively. Through a system of protection, support and encouragement of the whistleblowers, the project aims to increase the level of integrity in the public administration and the degree of responsibility and accountability of public and political servants, to encourage the warning of irregularities within state institutions and private law organizations that harm the public interest and also to contribute to increasing the efficiency and the transparency in the public sector.
Summary of project results
The issue addressed by the project was related to the adoption by the European Council and the European Parliament in 2019 of the European Directive on the protection of persons reporting breaches of EU law, Romania having two years to put in practice the provisions of the Directive into national law.
The project aimed to contribute to the efficient transposition of the Directive, a process which also involves the creation of legislative and social frameworks in which Romanian whistleblowers feel safe and benefit from protection and support and in which the warning activity that they carry out does not affect their personal/professional lives negatively. Within the project, a website dedicated to whistleblowers was created (www.avertizori.ro) and the first study in Romania was launched on the problems and needs faced by whistleblowers in the current national context. It was launched during a public debate at Parliament in October 2021. An informal support group was formed consisting of 33 whistle-blowers, lawyers, experts and NGO representatives. This group met constantly and outlined common positions throughout the project. Whistle-blowers and NGOs participated in the 4 debates organized by the Legal Commission of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies on the draft law . Public pressure and legislative analyses carried out in 2021 and 2022 determined the USR''s referral to the Constitutional Court and the President''s refusal to promulgate the law in July 2022. The project offered the opportunity to initiate partnerships between civil society, private companies and ANI. 15 training sessions were organized for 216 students, 32 journalists and 37 lawyers to raise awareness about the provisions of the new law. Within the resource centre, 9 whistle-blowers received support in court litigation, general legal advice and
psychological support. Whistleblowing has been the subject of 108 press appearances during march 2021- december 2022.
The activities carried out within this project significantly influenced the legislative process of adopting the law transposing the Directive on the protection of whistle-blowers - adopted on December 22, 2022.