Persons reporting play a key role in discovering and preventing infractions that injure the public interest and protect the welfare of society. However, potential informants often give up reporting their concerns or suspicions for fear of reprisals. In this context, there is increasing recognition, both at European and international level, of the importance of ensuring a balanced and effective protection for informants.
Complaints and public disclosures constitute one of the primary components of compliance with the Law and the policies of the Union, because they provide information to the national and Union systems responsible for the application of the laws, which makes it possible to detect, investigate and effectively prosecute violations of Union law, thereby improving transparency and accountability.
First whereas of the Directive
