European parliament under fire for whistleblower retaliation
Instead of granting him whistleblower status and ensuring his protection, the European Parliament revealed his identity and dismissed a parliamentary assistant. The man reported harassment and fraud allegedly perpetrated by the MEP he worked with.
A complaint has been filed with the EU Court, which is the lower chamber of the Court of Justice of the EU, by the former accredited assistant in the European Parliament.
He complained and was dismissed
The man reported a case of harassment and financial fraud by the MEP he worked for. His personal details were kept confidential in court documents, and he was transferred to another MEP's office. Shortly thereafter, he complained that his identity had been publicly disclosed, leading to retaliation for reporting the politician. As a result, his employment contract was not extended.
The man challenged the dismissal decision and accused the EP of refusing to grant him whistleblower status and failing to provide appropriate protection as the aggrieved party. The former assistant demanded compensation of 200,000 euros from the European Parliament for not adhering to regulations on whistleblower protection and confidentiality of their data. However, the EP rejected these demands. The man turned to the EU Court. The court partially upheld the complaint.
The court ruled that the European Parliament indeed violated some regulations regarding whistleblower status, indicating that the assistant had an undeniable right to automatic protection after reporting illegal activities. Furthermore, the EP did not inform him within the required timeframe about the consequences of his actions and showed insufficient commitment to ensuring his protection from retaliation.
Nonetheless, the court found that the non-extension of the contract was lawful due to the requirement of mutual trust between the assistant and the MEP. However, the Parliament was not absolved of the duty to protect the employee from the negative consequences of his reporting. The court awarded the complainant compensation of 10,000 euros.
This case sheds light on the challenges faced by the European Parliament related to allegations of harassment, bullying, and financial fraud among its members. The story recalls similar cases, such as the infamous "Katargate" or the accusations against Belgian liberal deputy Hilde Vautmans and Belgian Flemish nationalist Assita Kanko for financial irregularities and bullying.
