IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD: 01.03.2024-28.02.2026
PROJECT COST: EUR 107,770.40
DONOR: European Commission: EUR 96,900.00, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia: EUR 5 367, Delna co-financing: EUR 5503.40
CONTACT PERSON: Jēkabs Kārlis Rasnačs
The aim of the project is to promote efficient and appropriate operation of Whistleblowing Law in Latvia, while promoting mutual exchange of experience among European countries. It takes into account that the citizens’ desire and ability to use the whistleblowing mechanism can be achieved by implementing a strong and unified whistleblowing system in all public administration institutions, in the private sector, as well as by informing and educating the public about the operation and benefits of this mechanism.
Latvia was one of the first in Europe that adopted a specialised Whistleblowing Law (hereinafter – WL), it entered into force on May 1, 2019. In the drafting of the law, civil society organizations played a decisive role, and among them the society “Sabiedrība par atklātību – Delna” (hereinafter – Delna). According to WL, the State Chancellery is the institution responsible for whistleblowing in Latvia, which monitors and improves the whistleblowing system, therefore it is also a partner organization of this project.
In 2022, Latvia took another important step by adopting a new WL to take over the whistleblowing directive of the European Commission. Delna also participated in the process of drafting and adopting the new law in the government and the Saeima. Although the regulatory framework is in force, there are still uncertainties in the institutions, unequal understanding in the consideration of applications and prejudices in the society regarding the application of WL. Therefore, in Latvia, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive study on the existing problems and shortcomings in the use of the whistleblowing mechanism.
The project will help identify the actual situation in the functioning of the whistleblowing system and identify possible obstacles to the effective use of whistleblowing. This knowledge will be important for developing recommendations for improving the whistleblowing system in Latvia and adjusting systems in other EU member states. The results and conclusions of the evaluation will be the basis for discussions at the EU level.
STAGES OF THE PROJECT
- Development of methodology for ex-post evaluation;
- Conducting a public survey on whistleblowing in Latvia;
- Consulting, data analysis and development of recommendations;
- Publication of a report on the evaluation of the Whistleblowing Law in English and Latvian;
- Dissemination of report results, organization of workshops and advocacy, including round-table discussions with experts and decision makers.
IMPORTANCE OF THE PROJECT
- Effective and appropriate operation of WL in Latvia;
- Educating and informing the public about how to facilitate the whistleblowing process, protect whistleblowers and how this mechanism works, what are the benefits of it;
- Implementation of a unified and strong whistleblowing system in all public administration institutions, as well as the private sector;
- Exchange of good practices at the European level.
PROJECT PUBLICATIONS
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
