Since 1 January 2014 all EU institutions have been required to bring in rules on the protection of whistleblowers, their access to information and the procedure for dealing with complaints lodged by whistleblowers about the treatment they have received.

Recently the European Ombudsman expressed her disappointment that only two out of nine European institutions have so far put in place internal rules to protect whistleblowers, which have been compulsory since January 2014. One institution which does not have such mechanisms in place is the Council.

1.Is there any reason why the Council has not yet put in place internal rules to protect whistleblowers?

2.Did the interinstitutional committee that is discussing whether the institutions can adopt a common approach to their obligations in this area put any pressure on the Council to establish protection for whistleblowers?

3.Were there any occasions of whistle blowing in the Council where protection was given notwithstanding the lack of internal rules for such protection?