How to improve cooperation between member states and European Union institutions so as to better ensure the protection of whistleblowers

The author provides a comprehensive overview of the current level of protection of whistleblowers in the European Union, from a substantive and institutional point of view, considering international standards and their implementation by European Union member states. The article starts with a general perspective on the main international and European anti-corruption instruments and the reinforced role and capacities of Eurojust following the adoption of the 2008 Council Decision. This is followed by the presentation of relevant statistical data on Eurojust activities in corruption cases. This general part is followed by a detailed overview of the national transpositions of the main instruments in the field (the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the Council of Europe's Civil Law Convention on Corruption). The author concludes that the current legal framework is fragmented, providing very different levels of protection. A European Union instrument approximating legislation in this field would contribute both to the increased effectiveness of efforts to combat corruption and to the protection of fundamental human rights. © 2011 ERA.