Poland – Corruption 2nd NAP

4. Ministry of Family and Social Policy

Protection of whistleblowers. Implementation of Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law

[page 22]

“Pursuant to Order No 229 of the Prime Minister of 1 December 2020, (Official Journal of the Republic of Poland ‘Monitor Polski’, item 1112), the Minister responsible for labour has been appointed to carry out legislative work at the governmental stage to implement Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law. The following measures are planned: …  3) The need to change the status and definition of a whistleblower, mirroring the solutions adopted in the European legislations. The status of a whistleblower should be granted by virtue of the law itself, eliminating the need for the prosecutor to grant the status of a whistleblower (resulting in the creation of a quasi-witness institution in the proceedings). The primary function of a whistleblower should consist in acting in the public interest by disclosing – in good faith – all irregularities and threats in the workplace (not only corruption-related), while enjoying statutory legal protection for such activity.”

Appendix 2 (information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Recommendations

[page 47] “In their activities supporting Polish entrepreneurs, public procurement and development aid projects implementation, Polish foreign missions are guided by the following principles requiring them to: …. – avoid corruption-generating situations and regularly train employees in this area, particularly with regard to acceptable practices for maintaining social relations with business partners and accepting gifts in accordance with Polish and local laws and customs in the host country;”