Our attorney Kaisa-Maria Kubpart and partner and attorney-at-law Kristi Sild wrote a guest chapter for the EQS Group’s Expert Guide on Whistleblowing Laws in the EU. The Guide focuses on implementing the EU Whistleblowing Directive in the EU Member States. While the Directive had to be transposed into national law by 17 December 2021, a deadline that most EU member states failed to meet, EQS Group worked with its expert partner network, including LEXTAL, across the EU to paint the most comprehensive picture possible of the situation across the continent in mid-2022.
Kaisa-Maria and Kristi gave an overview of Estonia’s current implementation process and legal situation. In conclusion, the transposition process is ongoing in Estonia – the bill passed the first reading in parliament at the start of 2022 but has received heavy criticism from both the public and private sector and hundreds of amendment proposals. This is presumably due to the broader approach in Estonia in implementing and choosing to protect whistleblowers in all areas of activity, which will surely “assist” in further delaying the implementation process. Therefore, the planned entry into force on 1 June 2022 is improbable to occur. The frustrating process is exacerbated by the fact that there is no joint and cross-sectoral valid regulation for whistleblower protection in Estonian law. As of now, it is not known how and when the EU Whistleblowing Directive will end up being implemented into local law.
The Guide is an excellent use for all of our international companies and partners – the Guide comprises almost 150 pages on national whistleblowing laws in the EU, Switzerland and the UK, tips on fulfilling local whistleblowing requirements and implementing a whistleblowing system as well as a chapter on fostering a healthy speak-up culture. The Guide will be kept up to date once the EU Whistleblowing Directive is transposed in Estonia.
You can download the Expert Guide for free here: https://www.integrityline.com/expertise/white-paper/expert-guide-whistblowing-laws-eu/.
