Together with 28 organisations working on whistleblower protection worldwide, we have sent an open letter to the Slovak government and the parliament to withdraw the bill. Read it here: www.ewi.legal/blog/1wier2o...

Transparency International and TI Slovakia are calling on Slovakian MPs not to support it. Protecting whistleblowers is protecting the rule of law. What is at stake next week is the integrity of Slovakia's democracy.

Our colleagues in Slovakia, along with other civil society groups, are warning that this move is not in the country’s national interest, and would not only erode institutional independence but could also and damage Slovakia's standing within the European Union.

Whistleblowers play a crucial role in safeguarding the public good by exposing wrongdoing, corruption and malpractice. For example, revealing fraudulent public spending can trigger action to improve oversight, so that public funds are used for services that benefit society.

Thanks to these efforts, public trust in authorities and institutions has grown, and citizens' willingness to report wrongdoing to the WPO has been steadily increasing. This progress is now in danger of being lost.

These proposals contradict the EU Whistleblower Directive, and jeopardise Slovakia's compliance with EU law.

For years, Slovakia has been a model in Europe for its rules to safeguard those who speak up against corruption.