Introductory text

THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK,

Having regard to the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, and in particular Article 12.3 thereof,

Whereas:

The whistleblowing policy of the European Central Bank (ECB) has recently been enhanced in the ethics framework of the ECB^f1. Information on breaches reported through the internal reporting platform set up for this purpose by the ECB (‘the whistleblowing tool’) may concern high-level ECB officials, that is, the officials referred to in Articles 1.1, 1.2 and 1.4 of the Code of conduct for high-level European Central Bank Officials^f2.

To be effective, the ECB’s whistleblowing policy should provide for a thorough assessment and follow-up on all reports submitted through the new reporting tool. Such assessment and follow-up should be carried out in accordance with a harmonised procedure under the responsibility of a designated competent authority.

It is appropriate to specify the procedure that will apply to the assessment of and follow up on information on breaches reported through the whistleblowing tool, where a report refers to a high-level ECB official as a person to whom a breach is attributed or with whom that person is associated.

In order to ensure a smooth implementation of the enhanced framework and avoid legal uncertainty on the assessment of and follow up on information on breaches reported through the whistleblowing tool, where a report refers to a high-level ECB official as a person to whom a breach is attributed or with whom that person is associated, this Decision should enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: