Casa nominated EP rapporteur on whistleblowers

The head of the Nationalist Party’s delegation at the European Parliament, David Casa, has been nominated as the EP’s rapporteur on whistleblowers.

Speaking after his nomination, Casa, who this week hit the news after accusing Prime Minister Joseph Muscat of lying about securing a socialist vote for Tonio Borg in 2012, said the importance of whistleblowers was recently highlighted by the Panama Papers revelations.

“A vast number of MEPs, virtually from all the political spectrum, are enraged by the extent of which politically exposed persons are willing to go in order to hide their illicit proceeds.”

“Clearly MEPs feel the need to provide legal protection to whistle-blowers at EU level. If whistle-blowers leak information in the public interest they should be protected from prosecution, reprisals and threats. They, together with journalists, are key players in upholding democracy and are key in our fight against corruption, money laundering, and abuse of power," said David Casa MEP. 

Following his nomination, Casa is now expected to start discussions with MEPs in order to legally protect whistleblowers, after which a vote will be taken in early 2017.

Casa was nominated rapporteur of the European Parliament report entitled "Legitimate measures to protect whistle-blowers acting in the public interest when disclosing the confidential information of companies and public bodies."