Luxembourg Leaks trial

Regrettable verdict a wake-up call on whistleblower protection

A Luxembourg court today ruled that ‘Luxembourg Leaks’ whistleblowers Antoine Deltour and Raphaël Halet were guilty of stealing documents, revealing business secrets and violating trade secrets (1). Criticising the verdict, Green transparency spokesperson Benedek Javor MEP, who was ...

Luxleaks committee delivers final verdict

A blog from our Tax Justice campaign

In the same week as Finance Ministers agreed a weak package of reforms on tax avoidance, the European Parliament Special Committee TAXE has published a harsh assessment of Member States' willingness to adopt tax reforms. The committee, created in February 2015 to investigate the Luxleaks scandal, also put forward a series of recommendations on how to make corporate taxation fairer.

Greens/EFA launch public consultation

Momentum for protection of whistle-blowers in Europe continues to grow

What's your opinion on whistle-blower protection? We want to hear from you. Have your say through our online public consultation.

EMIS hearing 16 June 2016

Daniel Lange, software firm Faster IT “Management of car industry knew quite well about shortcomings”

The second part of the afternoon session of the Committee of inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS) saw Mr Daniel Lange, a long time veteran of the software side of the car industry who at the moment is working for software firm Faster IT as a consultant.

Lost in Translation

Back-room debates about the impact of trade secrets on whistle-blowers shows urgent need for EU wide whistle-blower protection

Today, unfortunately, the controversial Trade Secrets directive was formally adopted by the Council, but only after several delays due to disagreements over how specifically to translate a key provision in the text: the word "wrongdoing".

Luxleaks case

Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament expresses outrage at prosecutor's demand

The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament today expressed its concern and shock at the decision of the Luxleaks prosecutor to demand an 18 month suspended jail sentence and fine for the two whistle-blowers who uncovered the details of "sweetheart" tax deals in Luxembourg, as well as a fine for the journalist that initially reported on the scandal.

The right to speak out?

04.05.2016

Draft directive for the protection of whistle-blowers across Europe

The draft Directive aims to inspire the European Commission to use its power to propose legislation for the protection of whistle-blowers across Europe. The Directive aims to incorporate international standards on how to best protect whistle-blowers into EU law, thus ensuring the rights and mobility of workers and protecting both public institutions and private companies from fraudulent activities within their ranks

Whistle-blowers Directive

Time to prioritise the protection of whistle-blowers instead of attempting to silence them!

Whistleblowing is not just about freedom of speech. It's not just about protecting working conditions, and it's not just about protecting the internal market. It's about all those things and more. It's the only way in which a lot of otherwise secret information can be brought to light, and hence it's often the best way, at least for now, to uncover wrong-doing, corruption, and downright immoral behaviour.

Whistleblower protection

Greens present draft EU law as Deltour trial continues

The Greens/EFA group in European Parliament are presenting a draft for a new EU directive on whistleblower protection. The draft directive, which has been launched coinciding with the trial of Luxembourg Leaks whistleblower Antoine Deltour, aims to provide the basis and further impetus for a proposa...

Greens/EFA Round up

Debriefing of the Strasbourg plenary week 11-15 April 2016

Greens/EFA priorities for the Strasbourg plenary included air passenger data retention (PNR); strengthening data protection in the EU; Erasmus+ scheme; ensuring sustainable fisheries beyond EU waters; the refugee crisis and the EU-Turkey agreement; Panama Leaks: tax evasion and money laundering in the EU; the vote on the possible reapproval of glyphosate; Poland and the rule of law; EU trade secrets rules and the implications of whistleblowers; energy poverty: tackling poverty in the face of increasing household costs.

Trade secrets

New EU rules open the door to abuses and endanger whistleblowers

The European Parliament today adopted new EU rules on the protection of trade secrets. The Greens have expressed concern with the law, notably the excessive rights to secrecy for businesses and provisions that pose a threat to whistleblowers. After the vote Greens/EFA MEP Julia Reda stated: &ldqu...

Panama Papers

Greens call for an inquiry committee and present a draft mandate

In response to the Panama papers revelations, which showed criminals, wealthy individuals and firms channel funds through offshore firms to avoid paying taxes or hide illegal money, the Greens have called for an immediate response at EU level.