Whistleblowing directive

The European Union is trying to make it easier to report irregularities in an organisation or company. It wants to provide reporters with the necessary protection and remove barriers by introducing a clear whistleblowing directive (European Parliament Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law). The Whistleblowing Directive was implemented into Belgian law by the Act of 28 November 2022, with entry into force on 15 February 2023 (hereinafter "Whistleblowing Act"). 

The FWO provides an internal reporting channel in accordance with the Whistleblowing Act. The operation of this channel has been set out in a separate policy, i.e. as Annex 8 to the FWO employment regulations, and can also be found via the FWO intranet. The text below supplements this policy in order to quickly the FWO staff and third parties about the content of the Whistleblower Act and the operation of the FWO's internal reporting channel.  

In the event of questions or ambiguities, the FWO refers to the aforementioned policy or FWO’s internal reporting manager can be contacted.  

Regulations on the internal whistleblower reporting channel

Anyone who has obtained information about infringements in the context of a working relationship can make a report. This means that this goes beyond merely members of the FWO staff. External persons, such as applicants, applicants/researchers, consultants or suppliers, who come into contact with FWO through their work can also be reporter. 

Regulations provide secure reporting channels inside and outside each organisation. At the FWO, you can file a report either in writing or verbally to the internal reporting manager.  

The executive committee of the FWO has appointed Veroniek Robinne, a lawyer, as the internal reporting manager. 

The internal reporting channel can be contacted

• by letter: FWO - Attn: internal reporting manager - Leuvenseweg 38 1000 Brussels
• by email: klokkenluiders@fwo.be
• or by phone: 02/550.15.23
• Through an appointment with the reporting manager within a reasonable time. Such appointments will take place at the FWO premises.

In accordance with the Whistleblowing Act, you can report breaches or matters that you believe in good faith to be breaches in the following areas

• public procurement
• financial services, products and markets, prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing
• product safety and product conformity
• transport safety
• environmental protection
• radiation protection and nuclear safety
• food and feed safety, animal health and welfare
• public health
• consumer protection
• protection of privacy and personal data, and security of network and information systems
• combating tax fraud
• combating social fraud
• infringements affecting the financial interests of the European Union
• infringements relating to the internal market (competition and state aid, corporate taxation or constructions aimed at unduly obtaining a tax advantage).

The identity of the reporter is kept confidential at all times and the reporting manager also has a duty of confidentiality. However, FWO may disclose personal data to external advisers, competent authorities and regulators to the extent required or permitted within the terms of the Whistleblower Act. 

If required by the report, the internal reporting manager may handle it in consultation with the chair of the FWO audit committee. The (personal) data will then be shared in a secure manner and the duty of confidentiality will be maintained.  

Every reporter receives an acknowledgement of receipt within seven days of filing the report. The reporter will receive feedback no later than three months after filing the report, in particular on the actions planned or taken in the context of the follow-up and the reasons for such follow-up.