Activities of Olle LUDVIGSSON related to 2016/2224(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on legitimate measures to protect whistle-blowers acting in the public interest when disclosing the confidential information of companies and public bodies
Amendments (17)
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the European Parliament has established two special committees and one committee of inquiry following these revelations;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas, because of the lack of protection, one might not be willing to blow the whistle to avoid the risk of reprisal and/or retaliation;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas EU law already contains certain provisions protecting whistle- blowers against reprisals, including with regard to money laundering, but does not yet provide for horizontal legislation applying to all public and private bodies; whereas fragmented provisions might prove to be unclear and inefficient;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the European Court of Human Rights has a well-established case law regarding whistle-blowers;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union ensures the freedom of expression and the right to good administration;
Amendment 23 #
Cc. whereas an effective protection of whistle-blowers would contribute to the efficiency of the internal market and reinforce the citizens’ trust in the EU;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
Cd. whereas the European Parliament called for a protection of whistle-blowers in several reports, such as the two reports “Tax rulings and other measures similar in nature or effect” and the report “Bringing transparency, coordination and convergence to corporate tax policies in the Union”;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the Commission to present horizontal legislation to protect whistle- blowers as soon as possibl, covering public and private sector without any distinction, as soon as possible, and where necessary to adapt existing regulations to this purpose;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the Commission to present horizontal legislation to protect whistle- blowers as soon as possible, both in the private and public sector;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Emphasises the unreasonable and worrying fact that citizens and journalists are being subject to prosecution rather than legal protection when disclosing information in the public interest, including suspected misconduct, wrongdoing, fraud or illegal activity, particularly when it comes to conduct violating the fundamental principles of the EU, such as tax avoidance, tax evasion and money laundering;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Considers it necessary to settle a clear legal definition of “whistle-blower”;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Reaffirms the vital role of whistle- blowers in revealing suspected misconduct, wrongdoing, fraud or illegal activity; stresses that disclosures such as the revelations of LuxLeaks and Panama Papers are clearly in the public interest, visibly disclosing the massive scale of tax evasion, tax avoidance and money laundering;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Requests that the forthcoming review of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) adapt their powers and procedures to protect whistle-blowers;
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Believes that an independent body at EU level should provide citizens with a single reporting channel and, when justified, legal and financial advices and protections, as well as anonymity and confidentiality;
Amendment 73 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Commission to put forward an EU-wide legislation to protect whistle-blowers, including a selection of tools for safeguarding protection against unjustified legal prosecution, including measures to tackle economic sanctions, discrimination and job loss; suggests the creation of an independent European body responsible for collecting and analysing information while carrying out investigations, as well as a pan-European whistle-blower common fund in order to ensuring adequate financial assistance to whistle-blowers.
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Amendment 82 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Believes that any international agreement (trade, immigration, etc.) concluded with the EU shall include provisions on the protection of whistle- blowers;