18/01/2019 (Agence Europe) – The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) urges the Parliament and the Council to ensure that whistleblowers can turn directly to the public in a statement issued on Thursday 17 January. The Council, having procrastinated on the legal basis of the Directive (see EUROPE 12173), is now moving towards a political agreement, which in all likelihood will preserve the three-step reporting mechanism (internally, to external authorities and then to the public) laid down by the European Commission. Similarly, the Parliament has adopted a position which, while relaxing the initial proposal, provides for a two-step reporting timeline (internal or external, and then to the public). For the EFJ, this situation would penalise whistleblowers, crucial sources for journalists, and de facto undermine democracy. (PH)