The explanatory report emphasizes that the main goal is to enable a safer and more transparent environment in which whistleblowers and related parties are shielded from any form of retaliation, thereby promoting greater institutional integrity and strengthening efforts to combat impunity.

The drafting of a new whistleblowing bill represents a significant step toward strengthening the protection of individuals who report violations in the workplace, both in the public and private sectors.

This bill aims to improve and further align the Albanian legal framework with European Union standards, in accordance with the requirements of the European Parliament and Council Directive on the protection of persons who report breaches of EU law.

It offers a more comprehensive and modern approach, addressing the shortcomings of the existing law identified both by the examination of the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption (DPAK) and by comparative assessments from regional professional organizations in the field of corruption prevention, such as the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI).

The draft law provides for three alternatives for reporting violations: internal reporting within the institution, external reporting to the relevant authority (ILDKPKI), or public disclosure. In all cases, confidentiality is guaranteed, and anonymity of the whistleblower is ensured when requested.
A key novelty of the draft law is the formal recognition of whistleblowers as a vulnerable group, providing them with free legal aid and comprehensive legal support when facing adverse consequences in the workplace.

Additionally, the draft law assigns ILDKPKI a crucial role, granting it exclusive authority to protect whistleblowers from retaliatory actions and to oversee the law’s enforcement.

Another novelty is the obligation for every public institution and private entity with more than 50 employees to establish a dedicated unit for handling whistleblower reports, significantly expanding the opportunities for effective reporting and protection across the entire sector.

This initiative builds on the experience gained from implementing the law “On Whistleblowing and the Protection of Whistleblowers” and is outlined in the objectives of the 2024–2030 Intersectoral Anti-Corruption Strategy and its 2024–2026 Action Plan.
In the same vein, the Rule of Law Roadmap — a component of the state policy document and a key opening benchmark of the first cluster “Fundamentals,” approved by the Council of Ministers — as well as the National Plan for European Integration 2025–2027, foresee the undertaking and adoption of this legislative initiative.

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