EU Court Fines Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, and Estonia for Whistleblower Protection Failures

The European Union's highest court has fined Germany €34 million ($36.7 million) for failing to adequately protect whistleblowers. The European Commission filed a complaint in March 2023 alleging Germany did not implement EU law on time. The Czech Republic was fined €2.3 million, and Hungary was fined €1.75 million. Luxembourg and Estonia received fines of up to €500,000. The EU's whistleblower directive, enacted in December 2019, aims to protect individuals in the public and private sectors who disclose wrongdoing, shielding them from reprisals like dismissal or demotion. Member states had until the end of 2021 to incorporate the EU directive into national law; Germany's Whistleblower Protection Act came into force in July 2023.