EUAM urges authorities to make further changes to whistle-blower draft law
November 02, 2018
During an analysis of Ukraine’s proposed draft legislation on whistle-blower protection in Kyiv today, the European Union Advisory Mission in Ukraine (EUAM) urged Ukrainian authorities to address a number of issues in the latest version of the draft law so as to ensure compliance with EU standards.
Mission experts presented an analysis of the ‘Draft Law on Corruption Whistle-blower Protection’ at a roundtable on whistle-blower protection organised by EUAM and the National Academy of Internal Affairs in Kyiv. The event brought together representatives of Ukrainian law-enforcement agencies for discussions on the legal and institutional mechanisms of protecting those who decide to disclose internal wrong-doing and corruption they consider in the public interest.
The draft law was initially developed by the National Agency for Prevention of Corruption (NAPC) and published for public discussion. In July, EUAM provided a 10-page opinion advising how to align the draft law with applicable European standards, and while a number of the mission’s suggestions were taken on board, some issues remained outstanding in the latest version.
At the event today, EUAM Deputy Head of Operations, Lynn Sheehan (pictured below), said that although “the Ukrainian authorities have taken certain steps to tackle corruption, one of the things that still needs to be done is the introduction of appropriate legislation on whistle-blowing in line with European standards. In the current draft law there are a number of issues that need to be addressed, including the scope of the legal protection (which offences should be covered), reporting channels and institutional structures. Notwithstanding this, we welcome the fact that a draft has been prepared and is being discussed.”
EUAM reminded those present today that under the EU-Ukraine Association Agenda Ukraine has agreed to ensure adequate protection for whistle-blowers, and reassured them that the mission remained on hand to provide further advice on the legislative process.
