Conference / Whistleblowing for independent journalism
An event aiming to understand how to strengthen the public right to information through the EU Whistleblowing Directive. Hosted by MEP Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (Greens/EFA), Tuesday 4 February 2020 (11AM – 12:30PM) at the European Parliament, Brussels (Room A5E1).
Whistleblowers are key to support the right to information and essential sources for journalists. The adoption of the EU Whistleblowing Directive in 2019 has marked an important step in ensuring their protection across the EU, bringing legal clarity and safeguarding the creation of reporting channels. However, the protection granted when whistleblowers uncover the truth publicly remains unclear, and is subject to restricted conditions such as the exhaustion of internal and external reporting channels.
How to ensure the transposition of the EU Whistleblowing Directive does not impact the work of journalists and their access to sources? Join the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Free Press Unlimited and the Whistleblowing International Network (WIN) to discuss why Members of the European Parliament and civil society organisations must keep an eye on how Member States transpose the Directive without threatening press freedom and independent journalism.
Agenda
11:00 – 11:05 Welcome address
MEP Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (Greens/EFA)
11:05 – 11:15 General framework
Anna Myers, Executive Director, Whisteblowing International Network (WIN)
11:15 – 11:25 Practical example: the Publeaks project
Rianne Verbeek, Programme Coordinator, Free Press Unlimited
11:25 – 11:40 The legal perspective: Presentation of the EFJ / Transposition guidelines of the Directive
Mary Inman, International Whistleblower Lawyer
11:40 – 12:25 Discussion
12:25 – 12:30 Closing remarks
MEP Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (Greens/EFA)