Saturday, 15 March 2025
The Court of Justice of the European Union has imposed a €2.3 million fine on the Czech Republic for failing to implement the Whistleblower Protection Directive within the required timeframe. The European Commission filed a lawsuit against the country in March 2023, citing non-compliance with the directive, which was adopted in October 2019 and required integration into national legislation by December 2021.
At the time of the lawsuit, the Czech Republic had not yet incorporated the directive into its legal framework, as lawmakers were still debating its provisions. The Chamber of Deputies ultimately approved the bill in April 2023, and the Senate allowed its passage in June. The Whistleblower Protection Act took effect on August 1, 2023, initially applying to large companies. Its scope was later expanded to cover businesses with more than 50 employees from December 15, 2023.
The law provides legal protection for whistleblowers against employer retaliation and applies to reports of crimes and serious offenses with a penalty threshold of at least CZK 100,000. However, it does not cover anonymous notifications within state administration. Protection under the law extends not only to whistleblowers but also to individuals assisting in the preparation of reports and those closely associated with the whistleblower.
Other EU countries also faced penalties for delayed implementation. Germany was fined €34 million, while Luxembourg, Hungary, and Estonia received fines of €375,000, €1.75 million, and €500,000, respectively. Estonia was additionally ordered to pay a daily fine of €1,500 until it fully complies with the directive.
