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Is It Freedom? The Coming About of the EU Directive on Whistleblower Protection

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  • Wim Vandekerckhove

    (University of Greenwich)

Abstract

In November 2019 the EU Whistleblower Directive came into force. Whistleblowing has been described as a human right and a freedom fundamental to democracy. But it is not always straightforward to understand concrete cases of reporting wrongdoing in terms of abstract political philosophy. This paper uses a discussion between Berlin and Skinner about what negative freedom is, as a theoretical framework to understand the struggles of a campaigning platform of trade unions and civil society organizations, in the coming about of the EU Whistleblower Directive. The paper is empirically based on a document analysis of two Resolutions in the European Parliament, the European Commission’s proposal text, the approved text in the European Parliament, and messages on the listserv of the campaigning platform between February 2017 and April 2019. The paper provides insights on how whistleblowing freedom relates to public interest and autonomy.

Suggested Citation

  • Wim Vandekerckhove, 2022. "Is It Freedom? The Coming About of the EU Directive on Whistleblower Protection," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(1), pages 1-11, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:179:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-021-04771-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-021-04771-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eva Tsahuridu & Wim Vandekerckhove, 2008. "Organisational Whistleblowing Policies: Making Employees Responsible or Liable?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 82(1), pages 107-118, September.
    2. Harold Hassink & Meinderd Vries & Laury Bollen, 2007. "A Content Analysis of Whistleblowing Policies of Leading European Companies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 75(1), pages 25-44, September.
    3. Björn FASTERLING & David LEWIS, 2014. "Leaks, legislation and freedom of speech: How can the law effectively promote public-interest whistleblowing?," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 153(1), pages 71-92, March.
    4. Mathieu Bouville, 2008. "Whistle-Blowing and Morality," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 81(3), pages 579-585, September.
    5. Wim Vandekerckhove & Arron Phillips, 2019. "Whistleblowing as a Protracted Process: A Study of UK Whistleblower Journeys," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(1), pages 201-219, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Keywords

    Berlin; Freedom; Whistleblowing;
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