On October 17, 2024, the Regional Center for Social and Solidarity Economy Development in Varna hosted a workshop discussion titled “Protection of Whistleblowers – The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Bulgaria.” The event, organized by Transparency International Bulgaria, brought together representatives from non-governmental organizations and the media.
The main topics of discussion were focused on:
The legal framework and principles of whistleblower protection – Participants discussed the philosophy behind the European Directive (EU) 2019/1937 and its transposition into Bulgarian law. Challenges highlighted included negative public attitudes, insufficient awareness among potential whistleblowers, and the lack of a supportive environment
Challenges in the national legislation – The lack of adequate protection for journalists and civic activists who publicly disclose information about violations was identified as a serious issue. This gap could lead to retaliatory actions, including legal proceedings against them.
Recommendations for improvement – Participants proposed informational campaigns to clarify the purpose of the new legislation and inform citizens about reporting channels and mechanisms for protection. The importance of maintaining dialogue and building a network for the exchange of good practices between civil society organizations, media, institutions, and businesses was also emphasized.
The event is part of the initiative “Legitimacy and Accountability for Better Protection of Whistleblowers (LEO),” implemented by Transparency International Bulgaria in partnership with Transparency International Romania and the National Integrity Agency of Romania, and co-funded by the European Union under the “Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values” (CERV) program.