EU institutions are, since 1 January 2014, obliged to lay down internal rules covering, in particular, the protection of whistleblowers. The European Ombudsman has drawn up draft internal rules, following consultation with staff.

With a view to drawing on other's experience and knowledge in this area, the Ombudsman is now inviting comments from interested third parties on the draft rules. A final version of the rules will be adopted later this year.

Should you require any further information, please contact Mr Philipp-Maximilian Chaimowicz, Legal Officer at the Ombudsman (tel: +32 2 284 67 68).

How to comment

Comments should be sent to the Ombudsman by 30 September 2014.

By letter: European Ombudsman, 1 avenue du Président Robert Schuman, CS 30403, F - 67001 Strasbourg Cedex, France;

By fax: +33 (0)3 88 17 90 62;

By e-mail: http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/contacts.faces

As the rules will apply to members of the Ombudsman's staff, they have been drafted in English. However, comments on the rules can be submitted in any of the 24 official languages of the EU.

The Ombudsman may decide to publish the comments received online. Contributors who consider that their name should not be published and/or that their comments should not be made publicly available, should state so and explain the reasons why. In the latter case, contributors are invited to submit a non-confidential summary which may be published on the Ombudsman's website.